Lieutenant Edwin Charles Shepherd

1. Lieutenant (Army). 1917-04-22 to 1917-10-26
2. Major (Army). 1917-02-07 to 1917-04-21
3. Major (Army). 1916-03-10 to 1917-02-06

British War Medal

Memorial Plaque and Scroll
Source: Serial number 783905

Victory Medal

Son of Mrs. E. H. Shepherd, of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario; husband of Nellie G. Shepherd, of 123, Jane St., North Bay, Ontario. Held the rank of Major but reverted to Lt. in order to go to the front.

Lieut. Edwin Charles Shepherd
4th Canadian Mounted Rifles

Edwin Shepherd was born in the old city of Toronto on November 11, 1879 to Police Magistrate Edwin H. Shepherd and Mrs. Shepherd. There are little facts we know today about Edwin’s family and pre-war life except that his parents moved to Niagra-On-The-Lake Ontario sometime before the war. Edwin married Ellen Gertrude, and they lived 123 Jane St. in North Bay area of northern Ontario. Together they had two boys, Edwin Harry, and Jack Richardson. Where he worked with the railway, developing many specialties over the years: Lumbering, Engineering, Railway Construction, Supply Officer-Location Work, and Machinist with the CPR.

Edwin is shown as serving five years in the 23rd Regt. of the Canadian Militia, and later the 97th Regt.

Edwin Shepherd presented himself at the recruitment office of the 159th Battalion 1st Algonquin’s at North Bay on March 10, 1916, and was attested immediately as an Officer in the rank of Lieut. Presumably because of his Militia service history. He was recorded as being 5 feet 6 ½ inches tall, with a ‘good’ physical development.

Edwin was promoted to the rank of Major on May 30, 1916 in the 159th Battalion while serving at Niagara Camp Ontario. Sailed for England on October 31, 196 with the 159th Battalion, and arriving on November 11, 1916. The ‘Overseas Military Forces of Canada’ Headquarters Canadian Training Division at Shorncliffe Camp, England was keen on having Shepherd join the Canadian Railway Troops, based on his extensive history in this area. Shepherd was desperate to serve in a ‘line’ regiment, and wrote many letters to protest the posting. He finally forfeited his rank of Major, and offered to revert to the junior rank of Lieut. in order the go quickly to the front in a line regiment.

Edwin Shepherd must have been pleased, with the following routine order of April 22, 1917: ‘…The marginally noted officer who was posted a reinforcement to the 4th CMR 22-4-17 under authority of the War Office…and will be shown in the rank of Lieutenant.’

Left to join the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles in the field joining them at Arras on April 26, 1917.

Edwin Shepherd was killed in action, a mere five months, to the day of arriving in France. Official reports describe: ‘Killed by a snipers bullet when leading his Platoon in the attack on Bellevue Spur, near Passchendale on the morning of October 26, 1917.’

4th CMR Regimental History fills in some of the blanks: ‘… On the left the conditions were similar. ‘C’ Company struggled against a most grueling opposition, pushing forward until the effectiveness of the force was reduced by casualties. All the officers were hit; Lieut. V. Eaton and Lieut. Shepherd were killed…’ Edwin Shepherd was 38 years of age.

Sadly Lieut. Shepherd got what he wished for; a place in a fighting regiment, right in the thick of it.

He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing.

Source: The 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles, 1914 - 1919 (1926, Captain S.G.Bennett)http://contentdm.ucalgary.ca/u?/cmh,39960

http://www.4cmr.com/index.htm War Diaries

http://www.cefresearch.com/matrix/index.html Nominal Rolls

Active militia - 97th Regiment

former military service - 23rd Regiment, 5 years