Geburtsdatum: 27/04/1878

Geburtsort: Zerkegem, West-Vlaanderen, Belgien

Beruf: Triebwagenführer Straßenbahn

Land: Canada

Truppe: Canadian Expeditionary Force

Rang: Lance Corporal

Dienstnummer: 114186

Einberufung datum: 16/08/1915

Einberufung ort: Camp Hughes, Sewell, Manitoba, Canada

Einheiten:  —  Canadian Mounted Rifles, 5th Bn.  (Letzte bekannte Einheit)

Sterbedatum: 30/10/1917

Sterbeort: Woodland Plantation, Belgien

Todesursache: Im Kampf gefallen

Alter: 39

British War Medal Medaille

Military Medal Medaille — 06/01/1917

Victory Medal Medaille

Lance Corporal Richard Vehaeghe served with the Canadian Mounted Rifles 5th Battalion, part of the 8th Canadian Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division. The Battalion participated in the Second Battle of Passchendaele, which started on the 30th of October 1917. The final objective was the blue line near Goudberg, north of the Ravebeek. The attack took place in two waves. “A” and “C” company constituted the first wave. Their objective was to attack, capture and consolidate the blue line. “B” and “D” Company formed the second wave. They followed in close support of the first wave and they were to consolidate the intermediate objective (coordinates D.5.a.10.50 to V.28.d.30.40). In the morning of 30 October the troops were reported to be in readiness in their assembly positions. At 5.50 a.m., zero hour, a barrage of shell- and machine gun fire was put down. A few minutes later the Germans opened their barrage on the Battalions front- and support lines. The 5th Battalion of the Mounted Rifles had difficulty getting through the swampy ground in Woodland Plantation and have to go ‘around’ the area, north of the Bellevue Ridge. By mid-afternoon, the 3rd Canadian Division was well up on the Blue Line on the extreme left, but on the right flank they were held up at Graf House, near Meetcheele. Under the command of Major G. R. Pearkes, elements of “C” and “D” company of the 5th Bn. Mounted Rifles seized and held Vapour- and Source Farm. To defend their positions, Major Pearkes formed a defensive flank on the left and continued a short distance past Source Farm with the right flank resting on Woodland Plantation. They suffered considerable casualties, due to several German counterattacks, while holding the positions. There was a need for reinforcements, but it was difficult to send reinforcements, due to the isolated position and the bad condition of the ground in Woodland Plantation. It is difficult to determine the exact moment when Lance Corporal Verhaeghe was killed in action. The men were scattered all over no man’s land. It’s possible he became a casualty during the attack on the 30th of October while going to the Battalion’s objective, the blue line. It is not clear if he was part of the first wave, or if he was sent to reinforce the position at Vapour- and Source Farm. However His remains were found at the following coordinate 28. D. 4. b. 40.80 which is in the northwest of Woodland Plantation. In the late afternoon, the Canadian advance had reached its limit and reports of large numbers of Germans concentrating north of Mosselmarkt, pointed to a major counterattack. The 3rd Division received the order to consolidate their positions. At 1.35 a.m. of the 31st of October, the 5th Bn. Mounted Rifles were relieved and moved back into the intermediate area with Headquarters at Capricorn Keep near Pond Farm at St. Juliaan.

"Canadian Expedition Force 1914-1919 - Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War", Col. Nicholson G.W.L., Ottawa, Queen's Printer, 1962, pg. 320-323. Verwendete Quellen

"The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995, pg. 133,137 Verwendete Quellen

Ancestry http://home.ancestry.co.uk/ Weitere Quellen

CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/464990/VERHAEGHE,%20R Verwendete Quellen

Life Richard Verhaeghe http://photography-to-remember-ww-one.com/article.php?id=546 Verwendete Quellen

Service Records http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/search.aspx Verwendete Quellen

The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Verwendete Quellen

Verhaal Richard Verhaeghe http://www.fotoshootwo100.com/article.php?id=546 Weitere Quellen

War Diary Canadian Mounted Rifles 5th Bn. https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/archivianet/02015202_e.html Verwendete Quellen