Albert Corrigan - Lest We Forget

Albert Victor Ernest Corrigan was born August 21, 1891 at Carlow, Ireland. He was the son of Thomas and Adelaide Corrigan, who were living in Winnipeg, Manitoba at the time that Albert Corrigan enlisted. Later the family would move to Chicago, USA.

Albert was one of the first 69 men who applied to serve Canada at the outset of war in August 1914. However, his services were not immediately required and he remained in Revelstoke working as a clerk and being active in the Orange Lodge. Later on he would be named on the Orange Lodge Honor Roll.

Albert Corrigan enlisted May 31, 1915 with the 54th Battalion at Vernon. He was 23 years old, 5’ 11” tall, single, with brown hair and blue eyes. His religious affiliation was Anglican. He was one of 100 recruits for the 54th Battalion signed up from Revelstoke in the summer of 1915. Albert wrote a letter in June 1915 from the Vernon Camp which was printed in the local newspaper. In it he expressed his pleasure at watching a game of lacrosse in which the Revelstoke boys showed their stuff defeating the Vernon boys by a score of 7-6. He mentioned that “Corson and Pettipiece played very cleverly.” Cecil Corson and Earl Pettipiece both later perished in Europe.

Albert Corrigan died March 27, 1917 probably during the initial preparations for the assault on Vimy Ridge. He was 25 years old. His regimental number was 442038. At the time of his death, he was a Lance Corporal in the 7th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment). He is buried at the Epsom Cemetery, Surrey, United Kingdom.  This information implies that he was wounded in France and died in hospital in England.

Albert Corrigan’s name is inscribed on the St. Peter’s Anglican Chancel Memorial Screen as well as the Courthouse and Cenotaph plaques.

Recruits leaving Revelstoke in June of 1915.