04 February 2019

Robert James Epton, CWGC Beechwood

Private Robert James Epton, service number 144393 died a century ago, Tuesday, 4 February, 1919.

Born in Croydon, Surrey on 26 December 1896 to George and Bessie (Bruce) Epton. The family, including four siblings, emigrated in 1908 and settled in the Cummings Bridge area of Ottawa.

He was spouse of Florence Rose Wale who he married in England in 1916 and had a daughter Phyllis Violet Bessie born in England in the 1st quarter of 1917. Florence and Phyllis moved to Ottawa where they were living for the 1921 census and made their home. Phyllis married Daniel Smith and died 10 January 2015 (corrected).

A big man, height 6ft 2in, weight 185 lbs, he had served with the 77th Battalion, then the Canadian Ordnance Corps. He returned to Canada on the SS Grampian, which carried a large contingent from Ottawa and vicinity, and was immediately admitted to St John Military Hospital when he succumbed to pneumonia.

He was buried with military honours in Sec. 29. Lot 15. North-West. 3 at Beechwood Cemetery on 8 February 1919.


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I believe there is a typo with the date of death as 10 January 1915 does not make sense...