L/Cpl. Edward Tighe

93^rd Canadian Overseas Battalion/52^nd Battalion

Regimental Number 195864

Edward Tighe was born on April 12^th 1887 in Dummer Township, Ontario to parents Charlie and Sarah Ann (Royoft) Tighe.   He lived on the family farm in Dummer for the early years of his life, but by 1911, was living and working as a servant at the home of Jacob Snelgrove of Lakefield.   Edward later married Emma Rowe in Lakefield on February 13^th, 1913 at age 25.

Edward was working as a labourer in Lakefield, Ontario when he made the trek to Peterborough to enlist with the 93^rd Peterboro Battalion on March 27, 1916.  He was nearly 29 at the time, stood 5 feet, five inches tall and had a fair complexion, grey eyes, and auburn hair.  He listed his religion as Methodist and declared that he was married and had no previous military experience.  He listed his wife Emma, living in Lakefield, as his next of kin.

Edward spent the next three and a half months training at Barriefield Camp, Kingston. He travelled with his battalion to Halifax in early July 1916 and later sailed aboard the S.S. Empress of Britain to England on July 15^th.  The entire 93^rd Battalion disembarked at Liverpool and proceeded to Otterpool Camp to continue training.  At Otterpool the 93^rd Battalion learned that it was to be dismantled and its ranks used to reinforce other Canadian battalions already fighting at the front.  Tighe remained at Otterpool a couple of months before being assigned to the 52^nd Battalion.  He proceeded to France on October 5^th and joined the remnants of the 52^nd Battalion on the 21^st as they had just come off the line after a grueling attack on Regina Trench.

Tighe served with the 52^nd throughout the winter of 1916-17 holding the line in several sectors of the British held front.  Though no major battles were fought during that time, Tighe would have seen a regular rotation cycle of 4-6 days in the front line, the same period in reserve and then 4-6 days in a rest camp. 

During his time at the front, it is noted in his military file, that he was wounded in the right knee in March of 1917.  Though he was not invalided to England, as would be the case with most serious cases, he was “laid up for 4 months before he could walk.”  This time-frame meant that he most likely did not participate in the grand Canadian assault on Vimy Ridge in April of 1917. 

Close to a year in the harsh environment of the front did take its toll on Edward’s health, and on August 21^st, 1917, he entered No.12 Canadian Field Ambulance suffering from a fever.  He was moved up to the Casualty Clearing Station two days later and then again to the Stationary Hospital in Etaples, on the 28^th, being labelled as seriously ill and later begin diagnosed with paratyphoid fever.

After treatment in Etaples, he was being transferred to Addington Park War Hospital, in England on the 31^st of October.  He remained in seriously-dangerously ill condition for a month before being transferred to another hospital in Croyden, England.   On January 7^th Edward was removed to a Convalescent Hospital on January 7^th from which place he was discharged on January 18^th.  He made a good recovery from his fever, but was immediately sent to the Westcliff Canadian Eye and Ear Hospital, for treatment of a nasal obstruction.  He was admitted and spent the next three months under treatment for a punctured and infected nasal atrium.  It was also noted by the medical staff that Edward exhibited a heart murmur.  He was discharged on April 3^rd 1918, but given a temporary status of a D rating, which meant he was not fit for military service. 

Edward stayed at the Casualty Clearing Depot until his strength and health improved enough to warrant a B rating, that he was fit for base duty in England.  He went to the 18^th Reserve Battalion at Seaford Camp, England on July 23, 1918.  He was promoted to Lance Corp on Sept 3^rd 1918 when he took a position as a musketry instructor at the camp.  Tight remained in England until the end of the War and sailed home to Canada on December 21, 1918.  He was discharged in Kingston Ontario on January 30^th, 1919, being described as having very good character.

Edward Tighe returned to Peterborough County and moved with his family to Manvers Township and worked as a labourer.

Sources

Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1901. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Year: 1901; Census Place: Dummer, Peterborough (east/est), Ontario; Page: 9; Family No: 87.

Library and Archives Canada. Census of Canada, 1911. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada: Year: 1911; Census Place: 14 - Smith, Peterborough West, Ontario; Page: 9; Family No: 88

Library and Archives Canada. Sixth Census of Canada, 1921. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: RG 31; Folder Number: 54; Census Place: Manvers (Township), Durham, Ontario; Page Number: 14

Archives of Ontario; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Registrations of Marriages, 1869-1928; Reel: 266

Canada. "Military Service File of Edward Tighe." Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: Record Group 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9692-62. Item Number 269284.