Pte
Edward Francis Montagu Beldam
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 10/11/1888 |
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Place of birth: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada |
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Profession: Farmer |
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Religion: Church of England |
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: 827181 |
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Enlistment date: 15/01/1917 |
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Enlistment place: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Mounted Rifles, 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 30/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Inch Houses, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 28 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXX Row: F Grave: 2 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Edward Francis Montagu Beldam, a former farmer, was born on November 10th, 1888, in Cambridge, England, the son of Francis William Edward and Julia E. Beldam. On January 15th, 1917, he enlisted in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and was assigned the rank of Private in the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion, part of the 8th Canadian Brigade within the 3rd Canadian Division.
On October 30th, 1917, the 8th Canadian Brigade was positioned at Wallemolen, with the 7th Canadian Brigade on its right. Their objective was to extend the line to Virile Farm and beyond Vine Cottage. The 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles led the attack, which began at 5:50 a.m. Despite swampy terrain and heavy rifle and machine gun fire, they managed to capture Source Farm, Vapour Farm, Vanity Cottage, and Vine Cottage.
At 8:50 a.m., the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles moved in to reinforce them, as both flanks remained exposed. They too faced intense fire. On the left, the Artists Battalion advanced barely 100 yards and suffered heavy losses. On the right, the 49th Battalion of the 7th Brigade was unable to connect due to casualties. Reinforcements from the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles arrived later, and the line was secured on the right by 7 p.m. The 8th Brigade then consolidated behind Vanity Cottage, and the 2nd Mounted Rifles relieved the 5th.
Edward, aged 28, was killed in action that day and buried behind the original frontline. Private Edward Francis Montagu Beldam is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXX, Row F, Grave 2.
On October 30th, 1917, the 8th Canadian Brigade was positioned at Wallemolen, with the 7th Canadian Brigade on its right. Their objective was to extend the line to Virile Farm and beyond Vine Cottage. The 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles led the attack, which began at 5:50 a.m. Despite swampy terrain and heavy rifle and machine gun fire, they managed to capture Source Farm, Vapour Farm, Vanity Cottage, and Vine Cottage.
At 8:50 a.m., the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles moved in to reinforce them, as both flanks remained exposed. They too faced intense fire. On the left, the Artists Battalion advanced barely 100 yards and suffered heavy losses. On the right, the 49th Battalion of the 7th Brigade was unable to connect due to casualties. Reinforcements from the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles arrived later, and the line was secured on the right by 7 p.m. The 8th Brigade then consolidated behind Vanity Cottage, and the 2nd Mounted Rifles relieved the 5th.
Edward, aged 28, was killed in action that day and buried behind the original frontline. Private Edward Francis Montagu Beldam is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXX, Row F, Grave 2.
Sources 5
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2nd Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles. (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, 4947, T-10755, 465). https://library-archives.canada.ca Sources used |
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8th Canadian Infantry Brigade. (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, 4896, T-10690, 289). https://library-archives.canada.ca Sources used |
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Circumstances of Death Registers, First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG150, 1992-93/314, 145-238). https://library-archives.canada.ca Sources used |
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Commonwealth War Graves Registers, First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG150, 1992-93/314, 39-144). https://library-archives.canada.ca Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 154-155. 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/461900 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=d50218fe-cafa-4071-b1b0-5faeb0b9e7df |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5569457 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/461900 |