Captain Richard Alfred Ireland
PERSONAL INFORMATION
MILITARY INFORMATION
- Captain (Army).
- Captain (Army).
- Captain (Army).
- Captain (Army).
RESEARCH INFORMATION
Background
Richard Alfred Ireland was a son of the late William Henry and Caroline Ireland. A graduate of the University of Toronto (Medicine, 1907-11). Formerly on the Staff of Homewood Sanatorium, Guelph, and Toronto General Hospital (House Surgeon).
A summary of Ireland's military service appeared in the University of Toronto's Roll of Honour (1921) According to this source, after filling his dressing station with wounded, he was instantly killed by a shell while tending to wounded men in the open. He was buried close to where he fell.
Passchendaele (October 1917)
At the battle of Passchendaele, the Regimental Aid Post with Capt. Ireland as Medical Officer, and Lieut. Lawrence B. Rogers in charge of Stretcher Bearers) was established in a Pill Box near the Advance Battalion Headquarters at Kron Prinz Farm.
Source: Narrative of Operations 29-31 October 1917, 5th CMR War Diary
Capt. Ireland's death is reported in a subsequent page of the "Narrative of Operations":
11.20 am
Report from Advance Bn. H.Qs., timed 10.30 a.m., that Capt. IRELAND, M.O. and Lieut. ROGERS were killed and only two of Stretcher Bearer party left.
Request made immediately to A.D.S. to send up another M.O. at once. This was quickly responded to.
It was estimated at this time that our casualties (5th CMR) are about 300.
Compiled by M. I. Pirie, 2013
Photograph of Capt. R. Ireland which appeared in the Toronto Star on 10 November 1917.
[Captain Army Canadian Army Medical Corps No. 10 Field Ambulance Captain Army Canadian Army Medical Corps No. 7 Stationary Hospital Captain Army Canadian Army Medical Corps No. 3 General Hospital Captain Army Canadian Infantry 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles ]