Personal Details

Attribute Details
Nationality Canadian
Date of Birth 05 January 1877
Place of Birth Kincardine, Bruce County , Canada
Veterinary College and Date of Graduation Ontario Veterinary College - 1902

Military Service

Attribute Details
Last Rank Captain
Regiment/Service Army Veterinary Corps
Secondary Regiment
Secondary Unit
First Theatre of War France Unknown Date

Casualty Details

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Date of Death 04 September 1919
Age at Death 44
Place of Death Ontario, France
Cause of Death Fractured skull as the result of being hit by tram

Cemetery

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Cemetery Kincardine Cemetery
Location Kincardine, Canada
Grave Reference D1 L244 GO1
Commonwealth War Grave Yes
Emblem or Badge on Headstone Army Veterinary Corps

Honours and Memorials

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Name on RCVS Honour Board No
Name In Officers who died in Great War No
Medals and Awards
  • British War Medal 1914-1918
  • Victory Medal

Biography

Captain Matthew Connolly was born in Kincardine Bruce County, Canada, on 5 January 1877. He graduated with honours from the Ontario Veterinary College in 1902.

Matthew Connolly enlisted as a private in Edmonton on 11 November 1916 and was attached to the Canadian Forestry Corps, which had been created three days after Connolly enlisted. The Forestry Corps provided lumber for the Allied war effort by cutting and preparing timber in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Connolly arrived in England on 23 March 1917 and worked in Berkshire when he was injured while on duty on 24 April 1917. He fell into an unrailed pit, striking his face on timber at the bottom of the pit, which almost cut off his nose.

Following a series of operations on his nose, Connolly transferred to the British Army Veterinary Corps and was commissioned as a temporary Lieutenant on 13 November 1917. On 13 November 1918, Connolly was appointed Temporary Captain.

Connolly served with the British Army Veterinary Corps from 13 November 1917 to 27th August 1919. Most of his service then was with the Number 1 Convalescent Horse Depot in France and the 19th Veterinary Hospital at Rouen.

Soon after returning to Canada, Captain Connolly as the result of a fractured skull as the result of being struck by a tram.

He is buried in Kincardine Cemetery.