GIRLING, Theodore Augustus
Personal Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Date of Birth | 11 January 1876 |
| Place of Birth | Linthwaite, Yorkshire, England |
| Veterinary College and Date of Graduation | Toronto University - 1904 |
Military Service
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Last Rank | Captain |
| Regiment/Service | Canadian Veterinary Corps |
| Secondary Regiment | 9th Canadian Infantry Division |
| Secondary Unit | |
| First Theatre of War | France 1915 |
Casualty Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | 01 March 1919 |
| Age at Death | 43 |
| Place of Death | No.48 Clearing Station, France |
| Cause of Death | Broncho-pneumonia |
Cemetery
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Cemetery | Namur Communal Cemetery |
| Location | Belguim |
| Grave Reference | II.A.15 |
| Commonwealth War Grave | Yes - CWGC Headstone |
| Emblem or Badge on Headstone | Canadian Maple Leaf |
Honours and Memorials
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name on RCVS Honour Board | No |
| Name In Officers who died in Great War | No |
| Medals and Awards |
|
Biography
Captain Theodore Augustus Girling was born near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England, on January 11, 1876. He appears in the 1881 and 1891 United Kingdom Census. In 1897, he migrated to Canada and settled in Manitoba, where he taught.
In 1904, Girling completed his degree at the Ontario Veterinary College. He won the gold medal for the best examination result. After graduation, he worked as a veterinary surgeon in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. H, and he was in Saskatoon as a veterinarian involved him being a veterinarian for the militia and he a veterinary Officer with the militia from 1908.
Girling volunteered for active service on the outbreak of the war and was gazetted as a Lieutenant in the Canadian Veterinary Corps in 1915. He was promoted to Captain in 1916. Girling was to serve in both France and Belgium. He was Mentioned in Despatches for gallant and distinguished service in the field.
In March 1919, Captain Girling became seriously ill and died from bronchopneumonia at the No. 48 Casualty Clearing Station. The War Diary of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade for March 1, 1919, reads:
A further entry for March 4 states:“Captain GIRLING, the Brigade Veterinary Officer, died of pneumonia in the 8th C.C.S. NAMUR, after three weeks of illness.”
Captain Girling was buried in the Namur Communal Cemetery in Belgium.“The G.O.C. and almost the whole staff attended the funeral of Captain GIRLING at NAMUR at 1100 hours. The firing party and band were supplied by the 21st. Canadian Battalion. All Battalions were represented, and all the Veterinary Officers in the Division were present.
Captain Girling was the author of several poems published under the title of The Salient and other Poems composed on service in France and Belgium.
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