Captain Edward Lyman Abbott |
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Captain Edward Lyman Abbott
(circa 1915 to 1918) |
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Born |
Lovering, Ontario, Canada |
May 1, 1891
Died | August 14, 1918 Southeast of Amiens, France |
(aged 27)
Burial place | New British Cemetery Roye, France |
Nationality | Canadian |
Occupation | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Years active | 1915–1918 |
Known for | Battle of Amiens, Abbott Cup |
Awards | Military Cross First Bar |
Captain Edward Lyman Abbott (May 1, 1891 – August 14, 1918) was a Canadian multisport athlete, civil servant, and later a soldier. Abbott was considered a fine sportsman in Regina, Saskatchewan, and won national championships in ice hockey, and rugby football. He is the namesake of the Abbott Cup, and is honoured in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. Abbott was a decorated officer in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and died in action during World War I in France.
Abbott was born in Lovering, Ontario, the son of James Henry Abbott and Mary Ann Jackson. He moved with his family to Saskatchewan in 1897, and acquired the nickname "Hick," short for hickory. Abbott played hockey in high school, and developed into a fast-skating right-winger, with a knack for scoring. As a member of the Regina Shamrocks, and the Regina Bees, he won the Valkenburg Cup in 1911 and 1912, as champion of the Saskatchewan Senior Hockey League. He was captain of the Regina Victorias that won the 1914 Allan Cup, and was a member of the Regina Rugby Club from 1913 to 1915, that won the Canadian Football League West Division each year. Abbott was a law student, and senior civil servant for the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan before joining the military.
Abbott enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on September 23, 1915 in Regina. He completed officer training in Winnipeg, and was assigned to the 68th Battalion as a Lieutenant. He was deployed for duty on April 28, 1916, from Halifax Harbour, aboard the RMS Olympic. Abbott was promoted to Captain of the 52nd Battalion on October 30, 1916. In combat, he suffered gunshot wounds to his shoulder, and shrapnel in his eye, but continued to serve. Abbott was awarded a Military Cross in July 1917, for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, and a Medal Bar was added three months later after he led a raid on enemy trenches despite being outnumbered. During the Battle of Amiens on August 14, 1918, Abbott was killed in action, by a sniper's bullet to the head. Abbott was interred in the New British Cemetery in Roye, France, grave reference I.B.13.