Pte
Gordon David Mcnair
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 17/02/1898 |
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Place of birth: River Louison, New Brunswick, Canada |
General information
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Last known residence: Nash Creek, New Brunswick, Canada |
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Roman Catholic |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 793488 |
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Enlistment date: 19/01/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Campbellton, New Brunswick, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 26th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 06/11/1917 |
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Place of death: Crest Farm, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 19 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXXV Row: E Grave: 7 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Gordon David McNair was born on 17 February 1898 in River Louison, Rest County, New Brunswick, Canada. He was the son of Mary McNair. Before enlisting, he worked as a labourer. On 16 January 1916, at the age of 18, he enlisted in Campbellton, New Brunswick. He was initially assigned to the 132nd Battalion (North Shore). After arriving in the United Kingdom, he was transferred to the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick), 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division.
Gordon was killed on 6 November 1917 during the capture of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) left Potijze on 4 November around 11 p.m., heading towards Seine Dump, where it arrived around 1 a.m. the following day. There, the men dug in and tried to rest before moving out again around 11 p.m. towards the starting positions for the attack of 6 November. These positions stretched from what is now Passendalestraat to near Vienna Cottages and were reached between 2:30 and 3 a.m. on 6 November. The assault on Passchendaele itself would be carried out by battalions of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, who took responsibility for the village. The men of the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) from the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade also joined the attack, taking the right flank. Their objective line ran in an arc from just northeast of the village to just south of the village, beyond Tiber.
Shortly after arriving at the starting positions, the men of the battalion came under artillery and machine-gun fire, resulting in the first casualties. The attack began at 6 a.m., carried out by “A”, “B”, and “D” Company, while “C” Company remained in reserve. A barrage supported the advancing troops, and by 6:20 a.m., the extreme right positions were in the hands of “A” Company. At 6:40 and 7 a.m., the central and extreme left positions were taken by “B” Company and “D” Company. All companies encountered relatively little resistance but still suffered several casualties, mainly from machine-gun crews, which posed the greatest opposition. After capturing the enemy positions, contact was established between companies, and the lines were consolidated. Throughout the day, the Canadians endured artillery, sniper, and machine-gun fire. Enemy aircraft also strafed the newly captured positions all day long. During the night of 6–7 November, several patrols were sent out. A German counter-attack was repelled by artillery. On 7 November, the newly held front remained relatively calm, although the Canadians endured several minor bombardments. At 10 p.m. that same day, the battalion was relieved by the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles). During the capture of the enemy positions, 205 German prisoners were taken, but the battalion lost 42 killed, 206 wounded, and 1 missing.
Gordon was killed at the age of 19. His body was found after the war near what is now Rozestraat, Passchendaele. He was later reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXXV, Row E, Grave 7.
Gordon was killed on 6 November 1917 during the capture of Passchendaele, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) left Potijze on 4 November around 11 p.m., heading towards Seine Dump, where it arrived around 1 a.m. the following day. There, the men dug in and tried to rest before moving out again around 11 p.m. towards the starting positions for the attack of 6 November. These positions stretched from what is now Passendalestraat to near Vienna Cottages and were reached between 2:30 and 3 a.m. on 6 November. The assault on Passchendaele itself would be carried out by battalions of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, who took responsibility for the village. The men of the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick) from the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade also joined the attack, taking the right flank. Their objective line ran in an arc from just northeast of the village to just south of the village, beyond Tiber.
Shortly after arriving at the starting positions, the men of the battalion came under artillery and machine-gun fire, resulting in the first casualties. The attack began at 6 a.m., carried out by “A”, “B”, and “D” Company, while “C” Company remained in reserve. A barrage supported the advancing troops, and by 6:20 a.m., the extreme right positions were in the hands of “A” Company. At 6:40 and 7 a.m., the central and extreme left positions were taken by “B” Company and “D” Company. All companies encountered relatively little resistance but still suffered several casualties, mainly from machine-gun crews, which posed the greatest opposition. After capturing the enemy positions, contact was established between companies, and the lines were consolidated. Throughout the day, the Canadians endured artillery, sniper, and machine-gun fire. Enemy aircraft also strafed the newly captured positions all day long. During the night of 6–7 November, several patrols were sent out. A German counter-attack was repelled by artillery. On 7 November, the newly held front remained relatively calm, although the Canadians endured several minor bombardments. At 10 p.m. that same day, the battalion was relieved by the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles). During the capture of the enemy positions, 205 German prisoners were taken, but the battalion lost 42 killed, 206 wounded, and 1 missing.
Gordon was killed at the age of 19. His body was found after the war near what is now Rozestraat, Passchendaele. He was later reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXXV, Row E, Grave 7.
Sources 3
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5th Canadian Infantry Brigade. (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, 4886, T-10682, 253). https://library-archives.canada.ca Sources used |
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7135 - 31). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War diaries: 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4934, Microfilm reel number: T-10737 - T-10738, File number: 421). https://library-archives.canada.ca/eng Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/463831 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=a09edb0a-e24a-4dc3-b186-e4861ac51381 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/463831?Gordon%20David%20McNair |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5645566 |