Shaver Eadie

Rank: 
Captain
Unit at enlistment: 
8th Battalion
Force: 
C.E.F.
Volunteered or conscripted: 
Volunteered
Survived the war: 
No
Date of death: 
March 2nd, 1916
Cemetery: 
Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension - Nord, France - II.B.76.
Birth country: 
Canada
Birth county: 
Brant
Birth city: 
Brantford, Ontario
Address at enlistment: 
Oakland, Manitoba
Next of kin address: 
Oakland, Manitoba
Religious denominations: 
Baptist
Marital status: 
Widower
Age at enlistment: 
45

Letters and documents

Circumstances of Casualty: Died of Wounds at No. 1 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station.

BX March 10, 1916

Lieutenant Shaver Eadie of Oakland, Man., a son of the late William Eadie of Mt. Pleasant, has died of wounds, according to yesterday’s casualty list. Lieut. Shaver was in the employee of William Grant & Sons when here and a prominent lacrosse player. From here, he went to Winnipeg, taking part in the Riel Rebellion. Although nearly 60 years of age, he was one of the first to offer his services in the present war. He is a widower and is survived by one son and one daughter. Mrs. J.C. Watt of this city is a sister.

BX November 14, 1916

Poetic Tribute to a Brant Boy – T.E. Richard Gordon Tells of Death of Capt. Shaver Eadie in Action  

In the Penticton Herald, Penticton B.C., on October 26 appeared verses written by Pte. Richard G. Holmes, of the 8th Battalion Canadians, who lost both his legs through the bursting of a German rifle grenade in the trenches in March, and who is now in No. 1 War Hospital, Reading, England. The verses are in commemoration of the death of Capt. Eadie, of the 8th (Winnipeg) Battalion, who enlisted in Penticton.

Captain Shaver Eadie is a Brant County boy, having been born in Brantford Township. He is a brother of Mrs. J.C. Watt, 296 Dalhousie Street. In years gone by he clerked in William Grant & Sons store and then went to England, where he was employed in Robinson’s big departmental store. Although close to 60 years of age the call of King and Country was so strong he enlisted in Winnipeg. For some time he was at Shorncliffe with Lt. Col. F.A. Howard of this city. His son, Private Reg Eadie was also at the front and was returned home on account of his eyes. A brother of Capt. Eadie is now at the front. 

The verses follow:

Though your heart is torn with anguish
And your body wracked with pain,
Now your hopes all seem to languish,
And you wonder if you’re sane.

Do you remember Charles Eadie, who 
in the trenches fell?
With seventy odd pieces of high explosive shell,
Leg broken in three places, and his
arm in several more,
Thigh shattered, and through chest
and back wounds more’n a 
Score?

Now stretcher-bearers double, and 
double was their cry – 
Here lies a man who is a man – a man 
too brave to die.

Then up they came, those dear old
lads, the best in all the land,
And work with might and main and
skill, and strong and steady hand.

Now the enemy was shelling, yes
shelling with might and main.
We could not move him from the 
trench, where he’s been gently lain’

Now did any hear him mutter? Or
did any hear him groan?
The man who did’s a liar, that’s a 
truth I’d drive straight home.

Now – A pleasant word for everyone,
who passed him as he lay.
And the way he smiled I’ll ne-er forget – 
not to my dying day.

At eve they gently bore him from the 
trench – the mud, the wet;   
But as they carefully carried him – 
his soul its Maker met.

God alone knows all the anguish he
bore without a whine,
But a cheery word for everyone
throughout that long and 
weary time.

Now I’ve told my story badly, but 
read it if you can.
Not for the sake of the story, but
just because of the man.

Now forget your pain and sorrow,
And do the little you can,
A patient smile to borrow,
And live and die like a man.