John Rodgers - Cobban Branch of Family Tree |
anthony 1883 - 1920
Born October 31 1883, Anthony died in 1920 as a result of wounds he received in WWI.
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As a young man in his early 20's, Anthony leaves his family and Scotland to look for a new life in Canada. Immigration records show Anthony sailed for Quebec on May 4 1907. Anthony sailed with the Allan Line on the ship S.S. Sicilian. The Allan shipping company had only recently opened a route from Glasgow to Quebec.
Alberta provided 20 Battalions of men for the Great War, but only 3 (the 31st, 49th and 50th maintained their identity. Tony like the men from the other Battalions was transferred to reinforce numbers due to heavy casualties. Tony was transferred to the 50th Battalion on 14th November 1916.
Tony would be wounded in action several times. The first was in May 1917. His injuries were listed as Gunshot wounds and shrapnel. They must have been severe as he was unable to return to duty for 6 months. He was again hospitilised with Tonsillitis and Laryngitis on 17th July 1918, rejoining his unit on the 24th.
Tony was seriously wounded in action during the Amiens offensive on 10th August. The Saturday that Anthony was wounded was a few days into the Battle of Amiens, know by Canadians as their Hundred Days. The map below shows the position of the 50th Battalion just south of the towns Maucourt and Chilly. Anthony's wounds, described as a Gunshot wound (GSW) to the chest, caused a spinal fracture that instantly paralysed him below the waist. Near death, Anthony was evacuated to the UK and was in various hospitals in London where he was dangerously or seriously ill for the next six months. The final battle Anthony fought, east of Amiens has been noted as the beginning of the end of WW1. Ninety one days after being wounded, the war was over.
Tony would be wounded in action several times. The first was in May 1917. His injuries were listed as Gunshot wounds and shrapnel. They must have been severe as he was unable to return to duty for 6 months. He was again hospitilised with Tonsillitis and Laryngitis on 17th July 1918, rejoining his unit on the 24th.
Tony was seriously wounded in action during the Amiens offensive on 10th August. The Saturday that Anthony was wounded was a few days into the Battle of Amiens, know by Canadians as their Hundred Days. The map below shows the position of the 50th Battalion just south of the towns Maucourt and Chilly. Anthony's wounds, described as a Gunshot wound (GSW) to the chest, caused a spinal fracture that instantly paralysed him below the waist. Near death, Anthony was evacuated to the UK and was in various hospitals in London where he was dangerously or seriously ill for the next six months. The final battle Anthony fought, east of Amiens has been noted as the beginning of the end of WW1. Ninety one days after being wounded, the war was over.
Tony's case was considered by a Medical Board in May 1919 and he was given a medical discharge as " unfit for further service " but noted he was a permanent invalid who required the care of a nursing home. He was officially discharged from the Canadian Infantry on 11th June 1919.
Tony Cobban spent the last few months of his short life in his native North East in Morningfield Hospital, Aberdeen. His parents lived in nearby Huntly, his sister in Aberdeen.
He died at Morningfield Hospital on 17th January 1920 and was buried in the family grave at Huntly Cemetery.
The omission of Tony's name by CWGC and the Canadian military authorities came to light when it was found he was named on the Huntly War Memorial but there existed no official recognition of his war related death. Fortunately his Death Certificate gave the cause of his death as being the same medical reasons for his discharge from the army (fracture of spine and paraplegia).
Information from Great War Forum.
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=99200
Tony Cobban spent the last few months of his short life in his native North East in Morningfield Hospital, Aberdeen. His parents lived in nearby Huntly, his sister in Aberdeen.
He died at Morningfield Hospital on 17th January 1920 and was buried in the family grave at Huntly Cemetery.
The omission of Tony's name by CWGC and the Canadian military authorities came to light when it was found he was named on the Huntly War Memorial but there existed no official recognition of his war related death. Fortunately his Death Certificate gave the cause of his death as being the same medical reasons for his discharge from the army (fracture of spine and paraplegia).
Information from Great War Forum.
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=99200
Below are 10 pages taken from a Commander's official WWI diary outlining the the actions of the Canadian 50th Battalion between August 1, 1918 and August 19, 1918.
Reports from the Great War Forum (above) claim Anthony was wounded on August 13. The diary entries (below) record no casualties on the 13th and list an officer as the only casualty on the 12th. Perhaps Anthony was first treated and recorded on the 13th and was one of the 159 wounded on the 10th during the major offensive, or one of the 7 wounded on the 11th when the Germans counter attacked.
Click on each image for a larger version.
Reports from the Great War Forum (above) claim Anthony was wounded on August 13. The diary entries (below) record no casualties on the 13th and list an officer as the only casualty on the 12th. Perhaps Anthony was first treated and recorded on the 13th and was one of the 159 wounded on the 10th during the major offensive, or one of the 7 wounded on the 11th when the Germans counter attacked.
Click on each image for a larger version.
Canadian Great War Project.
http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/warDiaryLac/wdLacP08.asp
http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/warDiaryLac/wdLacP08.asp
Below is an extract from Anthony's Hospital records following his injury.
Fifty pages of Anthony's Regimental documents can be found at Library and Archives Canada.
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=107231
Fifty pages of Anthony's Regimental documents can be found at Library and Archives Canada.
http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=107231