Lieutenant Robert George Macfarlane was one of the initial men that enlisted in the CEF in September 1914 and was part of the 1st Canadian Division Cyclist Corps. He was born in Huntingdon in January 1889, and was a graduate of McGill University (1910). He had been working as a Mining Engineer near Nelson, B.C., and because of that experience he was transferred to the 177th Tunnelling Company of the Royal Engineers, attached to the British 2nd Army. This company was formed in June 1915 with the express purpose of providing mining services: listening posts, cables or to place mines underneath the enemy trenches. He was killed in Flanders, probably near Ypres, on March 6, 1916, at the age of 27.
Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
2125
Cause of Death (in war):
Died of Wounds
Branch:
British Army
Regiment:
Royal Engineers
Battalion:
177th Field Company
Company:
177th Company
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Huntingdon, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
25 years 7 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
27 years 1 month
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
27 years 1 month
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Mining Engineer
Next of Kin:
James MacFarlane, Brother, Huntingdon, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
Nelson, British Columbia
Religion:
Presbyterian
Place of Enlistment:
Valcartier, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
Height:
5 ft 6.0 in / 168 cm
Weight:
Chest:
38.0 in / 97 cm
Expansion:
2.0 in / 5 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
Yes
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Discharge Type:
Died in Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Railway Wood (Trenches near Ypres)
Length of Service:
527 days in service
Buried at:
Plot:
V. A. 2