While visiting the
Hamilton Cemetery to take photos of the grave of a regimental soldier, I happened to discover the grave of
2381580 Pte John J. Omand. In my ongoing research into RCR casualties of the First World War, I had not previously identified Pte Omand in any of my collected data.
The date of death on Omand's gravestone, plus the inscription "RCR, CEF" provided sufficient reason to dig deeper (no pun intended). I reached out to my contact with the
Canadian Virtual War Memorial for assistance:
I was in the Hamilton Cemetery (Hamilton, ON) yesterday pursuing photos of graves of soldiers of The RCR. I came across a gravestone commemorating a man who I cannot place in my various records. I have attached a photo of the headstone, which is in the soldiers' section of the cemetery, and my related notes follow.
John Omand - Date of death 4 Aug 1920, age 20, buried Hamilton Cemetery, Hamilton, ON. Omand has a gravestone in the CWGC style, the inscription reading "RCR, CEF."
Of the seven soldiers named Omand in the LAC CEF soldiers database, the closest match appears to be 2381580 John Omand. His MSA Attestation Paper, dated 2 April 1918, can be seen at: http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc018/690018a.gif
Trying to find him in any of the available data only serves to deepen the mystery:
* Not found in Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
* Not listed in Wigney's CEF Roll of Honour.
* Not listed in Part II Orders for overseas battalion of The RCR.
* No listing in Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Thank you for your attention to these soldiers and their commemoration.
Today, I received confirmation from the CVWM staff:
Good morning Michael:
I received a photocopy of the 'death card' for Pte Omand. Reg# 12324, that and with the copy of the attestation paper you located (strange that Archives didn't find it), I've enough to satisfy entitlement to commemoration in the Book of Remembrance.
It shows that he was Permanent Force, RCR died 4 August 1921 at Mountain Sanatorium, Hamilton. Pulmonary TB. The attestation paper confirms his enlistment in 1918. I will use the regimental number from the attestation paper, 2381580.
Thanks again for helping find another deserving Canadian.
Catherine
Catherine Tremblay (Mrs./Mme)
Senior Officer/Agente principale
Canada Remembers Ottawa
Le Canada se Souvient, Ottawa
And another Royal Canadian can be added to the Regiment's
Roll of Honour for the First World War.
Pro Patria
