Pte
Edward Allison MacDorman
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 12/08/1895 |
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Place of birth: Great Village, Colchester, Nova Scotia, Canada |
General information
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Profession: Teacher |
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: 911498 |
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Enlistment date: 13/06/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 46th Bn. (South Saskatchewan) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Deck Wood - Tiber, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXXVII Row: A Grave: 20 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Edward Allison MacDorman was a 22 year old school teacher, born at Great Village, Nova Scotia, Canada. Private MacDorman joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force on the 13th of June 1916. He was part of the 46th Battalion Canadian Infantry, 10th Canadian Brigade, 4th Canadian Division. At the end of October 1917, his battalion was deployed in the Second Battle of Passchendaele.
On the 25th of October, at 9.30 p.m., MacDorman’s battalion moved up to the jumping off line near Heine House and Hillside Farm. Several hours later, at 5.40 a.m., the attack was launched. An extensive barrage was sent out to clear the way, but the barrage fell short and caused many casualties among the Canadian troops. Nevertheless, the 46th Battalion C.E.F. managed to capture the Red Line, between Decline Copse and Friesland, and started consolidating. Meanwhile, they were subjected to heavy German artillery fire. In the afternoon, there was great activity among the German battalions. Several counter-attacks were launched. The Canadians tried to keep them off, but their position became untenable. Eventually, they withdrew along the Passchendaele Road. At about 8 p.m., the 46th Battalion C.E.F. was relieved by the 47th Battalion C.E.F.
The losses of the 46th Battalion C.E.F. were high. 294 of the 420 men who were part of the battalion were killed, wounded or missing. Private MacDorman was one of the soldiers who went missing and was later registered as killed in action. His body was found after the war at D.12.c.1.6 near Passchendaele Road, between Deck Wood and Tiber Copse. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery plot 37, row A, grave 20, where he is still remembered today.
During his time at the front private MacDorman wrote a personal diary which was preserved by one of his friends, Robert Rutter. The diary is part of the collection of the Army Museum Halifax Citadel in Canada.
On the 25th of October, at 9.30 p.m., MacDorman’s battalion moved up to the jumping off line near Heine House and Hillside Farm. Several hours later, at 5.40 a.m., the attack was launched. An extensive barrage was sent out to clear the way, but the barrage fell short and caused many casualties among the Canadian troops. Nevertheless, the 46th Battalion C.E.F. managed to capture the Red Line, between Decline Copse and Friesland, and started consolidating. Meanwhile, they were subjected to heavy German artillery fire. In the afternoon, there was great activity among the German battalions. Several counter-attacks were launched. The Canadians tried to keep them off, but their position became untenable. Eventually, they withdrew along the Passchendaele Road. At about 8 p.m., the 46th Battalion C.E.F. was relieved by the 47th Battalion C.E.F.
The losses of the 46th Battalion C.E.F. were high. 294 of the 420 men who were part of the battalion were killed, wounded or missing. Private MacDorman was one of the soldiers who went missing and was later registered as killed in action. His body was found after the war at D.12.c.1.6 near Passchendaele Road, between Deck Wood and Tiber Copse. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery plot 37, row A, grave 20, where he is still remembered today.
During his time at the front private MacDorman wrote a personal diary which was preserved by one of his friends, Robert Rutter. The diary is part of the collection of the Army Museum Halifax Citadel in Canada.
Sources 7
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/463742/E%20ALLISON%20MacDORMAN/ Sources used |
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Diary https://novamuse.ca/Detail/objects/236781 Further reference |
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Diary https://novamuse.ca/Transcribe/item/id/236781/representation_id/108052 Sources used |
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Eeckhout, Stefan. "In het spoor van private Edward Allison MacDorman." Sources used |
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Library and Archives Canada https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Pages/home.aspx Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: the day by day account. Londen: Uniform, 2018. 145-6. Sources used |
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The Long Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/4th-canadian-division/ Sources used |