Pte. John Taylor Dewar: The Great Uncle I Never Knew

Pte. John (Jack) Taylor Dewar (left), Unidentified Soldier (center), Pte. William Robb Dewar (right).

Pte. John Taylor Dewar (service no. 730016) was born in Lieth, Scotland on December 28th, 1897 and was the brother to my Grandfather William Robb Dewar. Pte. John Taylor Dewar lived in Galt, Ontario, Canada and listed his trade as a “miller”.

On November 1oth, 1915, just 6 weeks after his brother was wounded in Ypres he joined the Candian Army at the age of 17. What is interesting to note that on the 2nd page of his attestation papers his “apparent age” is listed as 18 years old when in fact he was over a month away from turning 18.

At this time my family knows little about him.

I suspect he was wounded April 1st, 1918 as the following 4th Battalion War Diary entry indicates:

Battalion relieved 1^st. Canadian Battalion in TELEGRAPH HILL AREA, ARRAS. Relief complete by 11.25 pm on 31^st. inst.

 “D” Company suffered two killed and twenty one G.S. wounds while passing through BEAURAINS.

Battalion Headquarters located in a deserted Battery position in BEAURAINS.

Royal Flying Corps Pilots report that Stature of the Virgin on ALBERT CATHERDERAL had fallen down about March 26^th. Popular French legend that the great War would end Victorious forty days later. Weather: cool and dry. Clean sky and moonlight.

He fought at Vimy Ridge in 1917 quite near his brother. He died of wounds April 3rd, 1918 and buried in plot VII. C. 33. at the FAUBOURG-D’AMIENS CEMETERY, ARRAS, Pas de Calais,France.

Below is his Circumstances of Casualty card which outlines his wounds that led to his death:

“Died of Wounds” (Shrapnel Wounds Legs, Chest, Left Arm and Buttock) at No. 2 Canadian Field Ambulance. Given the nature and design of the Field Ambulance service in conjunction with the assessment of wounded soldiers Pte. J.T. Dewar was not deemed well enough to move further to the rear for treatment or possibly the time delay getting him to the Field Ambulance station precluded the chance of any further treatment. Given the ability of medical facilities, medicines, and skills coupled with the severity of his wounds one may surmise that he, sadly, had no chance.

He served at the time of his death with ‘D’ Coy, 4th Battalion (Central Ontario Regiment).

He was 20.

[Insert Scan of Obituary Here]

Sadly his loss does not merit a mention in the 4th Battalion’s War Diary. It appears he was wounded several days before his death and one of the ironies of his and my Grandfather’s life was Grandfather had just returned safely home to Canada several [insert time here] before.

Thanks to the person(s) who scanned his picture from the Waterloo Memorial Booklet of him in his cap. This allowed his positive identification in the picture with his brother at the head of this post.

Other Links:

CWGC Casualty Details

Canadian Virtual War Memorial Entry (with pictures)