838566, Pte. Isaac Andrew Pinkerton, was born 28 Dec. 1881 in Lloydtown, Ontario. He was named after his father. In 1902 he (and his brother
John) enlisted in the 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles Expeditionary Force to fight in the Boer War. However he arrived in South Africa after the
cessation of hostilities and therefore was not entitled to the Campaign Medal and he was demobilized after 5 months of service.
In 1916 Isaac enlisted in the 147th Grey (County) O.S. Battalion. He listed his father Isaac as his next of kin (mother deceased) as he was
a batchelor. His hometown is listed as Priceville, Ontario, and his trade/occupation was Teamster.
Isaac sailed for England on the Olympic and arrived on 20 Nov. 1916. On 17 January 1917 he was struck off strength of the 147th Bn and taken
on strength of the 8th Reserve Bn. Subsequently on 12 February 1917 he was transferred to the 4th CMR. (possibly volunteered as he served in
3rd CMR 14 years earlier). Isaac would have participated in the Vimy Campaign and all the fighting the 4CMR was involved in leading up to
Passchendaele. Isaac was killed the first day of the final push at Passchendaele, 26th October 1917. His body was never found.
Isaac's name is inscribed on the Menin Gate (Panel 32) and appears on Page 309 in the Book of Remembrance on Parliament Hill. Isaac was my
Grandfather's (John Pinkerton) brother, thus my Great Uncle. I have toured the Passchendaele battlefield with my brothers, photograped his
marker on the Menin Gate and seen his name in the Book of Remembrance. Isaac Andrew Pinkerton and all those First War heroes are not forgotten.
Many thanks to Bruce Gilbert for the above biography.
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