Pte. Patrick Eagan, 1st Bn., RNR

[mordac]

Private Patrick Eagan (1888 - 1916) RIP

"Better Than The Best"

Died 88 years ago today.

Casualty Details

Name: Eagan, Patrick

Initials: P

Nationality: Canadian

Rank: Private

Regiment: Royal Newfoundland Regiment

Unit Text: 1st Bn.

Age: 28

Date of Death: 02/07/1916

Service No: 1764

Additional information: Son of Patrick and Bridget Eagan, of Keels, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: II. B. 14.

Cemetery: Auchonvillers Military Cemetery

Cemetery Details

Cemetery: Auchonvillers Military Cemetery

Country: France

Locality: Somme

Visiting Information: Wheelchair access with some difficulty. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our enquiries department on telephone number 01628 634221.

Location Information: Using the D919 from Arras to Amiens you will drive through the villages of Bucquoy, Puisieux then Serre Les Puisieux (approximately 20 kilometres south of Arras). On leaving Serre Les Puisieux, 3 kilometres further along the D919, turn left following the signs for Auchonvillers. At the crossroads in the village centre follow the CWGC signs for Auchonvillers Military Cemetery which is on the outskirts of the village on the right hand side.

Historical Information: From the outbreak of the war to the summer of 1915, this part of the front was held by French troops, who began the military cemetery in June 1915. It continued to be used by Commonwealth field ambulances and fighting units but burials practically ceased with the German withdrawal in February 1917. After the Armistice, 15 of the graves in Plot II Row M were brought in from scattered positions east of the cemetery. The cemetery now contains 528 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, the French graves having been removed to other burial grounds. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

No. of Identified Casualties: 486

July 1, 1916

July 1, 1916 is still remembered as a tragic event in Newfoundland's history. On the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 790 Newfoundlanders went over the top to advance towards the German lines. Out of these 710 were killed, wounded, or missing. Only 68 men answered the roll call the following day. Many of these men reached as far as "The Danger Tree" in no man's land and the others were slaughtered on the German wire. It was said that the Newfoundlander's displayed the greatest courage ever and the only reason why the advanced did not continue was because "dead men can advance no further". Major General D.E. Cayley, Commander of the 88th. Brigade stated "It was a magnificent display of trained and disciplined valour and only failed because dead men can advance no further."

From Canada's Book of Remembrance

[Guest dinkidi]

G'day Garth

I can understand the CWGC records showing Patrick as "Canadian".

How about the "Official Canadian Sites", to them would he always be a Newfoundler?

OOrOO

Pat

[mordac]

I can understand the CWGC records showing Patrick as "Canadian".

How about the "Official Canadian Sites", to them would he always be a Newfoundler?

Hi Pat:

What an interesting question. Newfoundland joined the Canadian Confederation in 1949, so Private Egan will always be a Newfoundlander. I think it's safe to say "Official Canadian Sites" acknowledge Newfoundland's proud heritage and contribution in the Great War as being separate and distinct from that of the CEF.

As for the CWGC, they also view men of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment as being different from men of the CEF. The CWGC uses the Newfoundland caribou on RNR headstones and the maple leaf on CEF headstones.

Garth