Sergeant-Major Henry Conlan

Sergeant-Major, 42nd Battalion, Infantry (Army).

Military Medal (Courcelette)
Description: In operations near Courcelette, early on the 15th, Sept; he took a party of twenty men over four hundred yards of open country under heavy fire to reinforce the threatened flank of the P.P.C.L.I. in the front line. He succeeded in reaching his objective with 50 men and reported to the Officer in charge and helped bomb out a communication trench. He also assisted to round up some German prisoners and remained in the front line until relieved on September 17th.
Date of award: 1916-12-09
Date of award: 1916-09-15
Source: London Gazette 29854
Notes: Hugh Crawford's medal site.

418126 CSM Henry Conlan

42nd Bn. (Montreal) Royal Highlanders of Canada

Henry Conlan was born at London England on November 8, 1888. There is nothing known at this time about his childhood or time spent in England. He came to Canada sometime before the Great War and worked as a Laborer in the city of Montreal Quebec and was married on enlistment.

Henry Conlan was an original member of the 42nd Battalion from Montreal enlisting there on February 25, 1915. He was recorded as being 5 foot 9 inches tall, a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair, listing his wife Lillian as his next of kin.

The 42nd Bn. Along with the new 2nd Canadian Division arrived in England in June 1915, and Conlan was made the rank of Cpl. at Shorncliffe Camp on August 21, 1915. Embarked for France and Flanders on October 9, 1915. He continued to serve with the regiment as recognized as a good soldier as his continued rise in rank to Sjt. At Ypres in June 1916. However it was at Courcelette the Somme that he was officially recognized for his conspicuous gallantry on September 15, 1916:

‘In operations near Courcelette, early the 15th Sept., 1916; He took a party of 20 men over 400 yards of open country under heavy fire to reinforce the threatened flank of the PPCLI in the front line. He succeeded in reaching his objective with 50 men and reported to the Officer in charge and helped bomb out a communication trench. He also assisted to round some German prisoners and remained in the front line until relieved on September 17th.’ (LG 9-12-16)

Appointed acting CSM on the Vimy front on February 1, 1917. Conlan was severely wounded in action at La Folie Wood in the capture of Vimy Ridge on April 14, 1917. The nature of his wounds are unknown as he was never admitted to a field dressing station or ambulance, obviously dying of his wounds before he could be evacuated. CEF Burial Registers - Died of Wounds at No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station.

He was 28 years of age, and buried at Barlin Communal Cemetery France, near where he fell.