Circumstances of Casualty: Died of Influenza, #42 Casualty Clearing Station.
BX November 27, 1918
Private Thomas Dawson Abbott Died of Influenza
On Monday, Mrs. Thomas Abbott Port Dover, received notification from Ottawa that her son, Pte. Thomas Dawson Abbott had died of the “flu” at the 42nd Casualty Clearing Station on Nov. 19. Private Abbott enlisted in Brantford with his brother, William in the 32nd Battery, but the two soldiers went overseas with the boys of the 125th Battalion. Pte. Abbott was with the 4th Machine Gun Battalion in France. He had seen two years fighting without receiving any injury. He was born in Port Dover, but he was farming near Brantford when the call to enlist came. His young wife and their little girl live at 103 Sydenham St. in this city. Besides his brother William, who returned, and is living in this city, another brother, George is still in France.
BX December 27, 1918
Private Thomas Dawson Abbott Passed Away on the Day Victory was Recorded – Fought Good Fight
Captain (Rev.) Robert Kelso has written the following consoling letter to Mrs. Abbott, 103 Sydenham Street, telling her of her husband’s death from pneumonia, which Mrs. Abbott was officially notified of on Nov. 25:
Dear Mrs. Abbott,
I deeply regret to convey the sad news of your husband’s death, which took place on the 17th (from pneumonia). When I wrote you on the 16th I was hoping for his recovery, but in spite of all medical attention, he grew worse and passed away on Tuesday morning.
I saw him regularly while he was here and he was most grateful for such general ministration as I could give him. He was a good soldier, in bed patient and brave. He met the last enemy in the spirit of a conqueror. He spoke of you and was always looking forward to being able to write you himself. But God has ordained otherwise, and we must bow in submission to the Divine will.
Your gallant husband has given his life for the most sacred of all causes and his name will stand among those who died to make the world free. He passed away on the day of the victory he fought for, but his work was done. He had fought a good fight and kept the faith, and is now enjoying the reward of all those who have been faithful unto death. He is buried in Douai Military cemetery, and a cross will be erected to mark his last resting place. May God comfort you and all sorrowing relatives.
BX January 21, 1919
Sympathy for Deceased Hero – Commanding Officer Expresses Grief over Loss of Thomas Dawson Abbott
Mrs. T.D. Abbott, 103 Sydenham Street, has received the following letter from E. Vincent Frith, Lieutenant of No. 1 Section A. Battery of the C.M.G.E., relating the account of the death of her husband, Private T.D. Abbott, who succumbed to influenza.
He had been in my section practically ever since coming to the machine gun corps, and apart from being one of my men, he was always a great friend and the sad news which came to me when I returned from leave to England was one of the worst shocks I have ever experienced.
During all our operations this summer I had only lost two men killed, and we had become one large family, so you can imagine what this news meant to all the fellows and myself.
Dodo was an ever willing worker and put his whole heart into anything given to him to do. He was most popular with all his compatriots.
The boys join with me in begging you and your little girl to accept our sincere sympathy, and we shall ever cherish the memory of your loving husband as a true comrade and staunch friend.
