Military Service:
Service Number: 1944
Age: 36
Force: Army
Unit: Canadian Light Horse
Division: "D" Coy. "A" Sqdn.
Citation(s):
Russian Medal of St. George, 4th Class.
Honours and Awards:
Military Medal
George served in the South of Ireland Yeomanry and took his discharge in order to emigrate to Canada to join the North West Mounted Police.
He was engaged in the Force on Jan 25, 1904, at Regina, Northwest Territories (in 1905 the province of Saskatchewan) and during his service he was posted to "Depot" Division as well as Fort Saskatchewan, Battleford and Hardisty Detachments. He was discharged from the Force on Jan 24, 1912 at Battleford, SK, on the expiry of his enlistment term.
When World War I broke out, George immediately enlisted in Canadian Expeditionary Force and was sworn in as a Trooper (Private) in the 19th Alberta Dragoons. The 19th Alberta Dragoons recruited as the 1st Divisional Cavalry Squadron and embarked for England on Oct 1, 1914. The squadron was re-designated as A Squadron, Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment on Feb 12, 1916, and as A Squadron, Canadian Light Horse on Feb 21, 1917.
George was awarded the Military Medal for exceptional bravery for his actions on the morning of Sep 28, 1916. The citation read "For gallantry and determination for leading his patrol in the face of heavy machine gun and rifle fire. He obtained useful information."
He was eventually promoted and appointed to the position of Squadron Sergeant Major of A Squadron. It was in this role that he was killed in action. Two troops of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade were ordered to capture a French hill called the Iwuy Spur from the Germans, and 280 troopers galloped with sabers drawn in the last ever cavalry charge in Canadian history.
The charge failed, and five men were killed and 17 wounded, along with 66 horses killed.
The notation reads "the Brigade to which Squadron Sergt. Major Aitken belonged was ordered to take the high ground to the west of Iwuy at one o'clock. The Canadian Light Horse were ordered to jump off after the infantry, seize and hold it until they came up. S. S. Major Aitken came over with the leading troop and was instantly killed by enemy machine gun fire."
Son of Mrs. M. A. I. Shannon (formerly Aitken), of 32 Gilford Rd., Sandymount, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and the late George Aitken (A.V.D., attd. 16th Lancers).
Service Number: 1944
Age: 36
Force: Army
Unit: Canadian Light Horse
Division: "D" Coy. "A" Sqdn.
Citation(s):
Russian Medal of St. George, 4th Class.
Honours and Awards:
Military Medal
George served in the South of Ireland Yeomanry and took his discharge in order to emigrate to Canada to join the North West Mounted Police.
He was engaged in the Force on Jan 25, 1904, at Regina, Northwest Territories (in 1905 the province of Saskatchewan) and during his service he was posted to "Depot" Division as well as Fort Saskatchewan, Battleford and Hardisty Detachments. He was discharged from the Force on Jan 24, 1912 at Battleford, SK, on the expiry of his enlistment term.
When World War I broke out, George immediately enlisted in Canadian Expeditionary Force and was sworn in as a Trooper (Private) in the 19th Alberta Dragoons. The 19th Alberta Dragoons recruited as the 1st Divisional Cavalry Squadron and embarked for England on Oct 1, 1914. The squadron was re-designated as A Squadron, Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment on Feb 12, 1916, and as A Squadron, Canadian Light Horse on Feb 21, 1917.
George was awarded the Military Medal for exceptional bravery for his actions on the morning of Sep 28, 1916. The citation read "For gallantry and determination for leading his patrol in the face of heavy machine gun and rifle fire. He obtained useful information."
He was eventually promoted and appointed to the position of Squadron Sergeant Major of A Squadron. It was in this role that he was killed in action. Two troops of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade were ordered to capture a French hill called the Iwuy Spur from the Germans, and 280 troopers galloped with sabers drawn in the last ever cavalry charge in Canadian history.
The charge failed, and five men were killed and 17 wounded, along with 66 horses killed.
The notation reads "the Brigade to which Squadron Sergt. Major Aitken belonged was ordered to take the high ground to the west of Iwuy at one o'clock. The Canadian Light Horse were ordered to jump off after the infantry, seize and hold it until they came up. S. S. Major Aitken came over with the leading troop and was instantly killed by enemy machine gun fire."
Son of Mrs. M. A. I. Shannon (formerly Aitken), of 32 Gilford Rd., Sandymount, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and the late George Aitken (A.V.D., attd. 16th Lancers).
Military Service:
Service Number: 1944
Age: 36
Force: Army
Unit: Canadian Light Horse
Division: "D" Coy. "A" Sqdn.
Citation(s):
Russian Medal of St. George, 4th Class.
Honours and Awards:
Military Medal
George served in the South of Ireland Yeomanry and took his discharge in order to emigrate to Canada to join the North West Mounted Police.
He was engaged in the Force on Jan 25, 1904, at Regina, Northwest Territories (in 1905 the province of Saskatchewan) and during his service he was posted to "Depot" Division as well as Fort Saskatchewan, Battleford and Hardisty Detachments. He was discharged from the Force on Jan 24, 1912 at Battleford, SK, on the expiry of his enlistment term.
When World War I broke out, George immediately enlisted in Canadian Expeditionary Force and was sworn in as a Trooper (Private) in the 19th Alberta Dragoons. The 19th Alberta Dragoons recruited as the 1st Divisional Cavalry Squadron and embarked for England on Oct 1, 1914. The squadron was re-designated as A Squadron, Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment on Feb 12, 1916, and as A Squadron, Canadian Light Horse on Feb 21, 1917.
George was awarded the Military Medal for exceptional bravery for his actions on the morning of Sep 28, 1916. The citation read "For gallantry and determination for leading his patrol in the face of heavy machine gun and rifle fire. He obtained useful information."
He was eventually promoted and appointed to the position of Squadron Sergeant Major of A Squadron. It was in this role that he was killed in action. Two troops of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade were ordered to capture a French hill called the Iwuy Spur from the Germans, and 280 troopers galloped with sabers drawn in the last ever cavalry charge in Canadian history.
The charge failed, and five men were killed and 17 wounded, along with 66 horses killed.
The notation reads "the Brigade to which Squadron Sergt. Major Aitken belonged was ordered to take the high ground to the west of Iwuy at one o'clock. The Canadian Light Horse were ordered to jump off after the infantry, seize and hold it until they came up. S. S. Major Aitken came over with the leading troop and was instantly killed by enemy machine gun fire."
Son of Mrs. M. A. I. Shannon (formerly Aitken), of 32 Gilford Rd., Sandymount, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and the late George Aitken (A.V.D., attd. 16th Lancers).
Service Number: 1944
Age: 36
Force: Army
Unit: Canadian Light Horse
Division: "D" Coy. "A" Sqdn.
Citation(s):
Russian Medal of St. George, 4th Class.
Honours and Awards:
Military Medal
George served in the South of Ireland Yeomanry and took his discharge in order to emigrate to Canada to join the North West Mounted Police.
He was engaged in the Force on Jan 25, 1904, at Regina, Northwest Territories (in 1905 the province of Saskatchewan) and during his service he was posted to "Depot" Division as well as Fort Saskatchewan, Battleford and Hardisty Detachments. He was discharged from the Force on Jan 24, 1912 at Battleford, SK, on the expiry of his enlistment term.
When World War I broke out, George immediately enlisted in Canadian Expeditionary Force and was sworn in as a Trooper (Private) in the 19th Alberta Dragoons. The 19th Alberta Dragoons recruited as the 1st Divisional Cavalry Squadron and embarked for England on Oct 1, 1914. The squadron was re-designated as A Squadron, Canadian Corps Cavalry Regiment on Feb 12, 1916, and as A Squadron, Canadian Light Horse on Feb 21, 1917.
George was awarded the Military Medal for exceptional bravery for his actions on the morning of Sep 28, 1916. The citation read "For gallantry and determination for leading his patrol in the face of heavy machine gun and rifle fire. He obtained useful information."
He was eventually promoted and appointed to the position of Squadron Sergeant Major of A Squadron. It was in this role that he was killed in action. Two troops of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade were ordered to capture a French hill called the Iwuy Spur from the Germans, and 280 troopers galloped with sabers drawn in the last ever cavalry charge in Canadian history.
The charge failed, and five men were killed and 17 wounded, along with 66 horses killed.
The notation reads "the Brigade to which Squadron Sergt. Major Aitken belonged was ordered to take the high ground to the west of Iwuy at one o'clock. The Canadian Light Horse were ordered to jump off after the infantry, seize and hold it until they came up. S. S. Major Aitken came over with the leading troop and was instantly killed by enemy machine gun fire."
Son of Mrs. M. A. I. Shannon (formerly Aitken), of 32 Gilford Rd., Sandymount, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and the late George Aitken (A.V.D., attd. 16th Lancers).
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