BRODERICK, PTE. GIDEON Reg. # 522652
Gideon Broderick was born October 27, 1890 in Magnetawan, the youngest son of William Broderick and Anne Jane Mortimer. At the time of the 191 census Gideon lived with his parents and siblings in the Chapman and Croft census sub-district. By the time of the 1901 census, Gideon was listed with his sister and brother-in-law (Wm. And Lucy Musgrave) in Canmore, Alberta.
Gideon enlisted on July 19, 1915 in Calgary, Alberta at age 24. In his Attestation papers he identified that he had been born in Magnetawan, that his next of kin was his father William Broderick and that he was a machinist.
On February 12, 1916 Gideon was transferred overseas and on February 18 arrived in France.
After a bout with influenza he rejoined his unit on August 11, 1916.
He remained with his unit through 1917.
On April 1, 1918 Gideon suffered a gunshot wound to his left side. In the remarks is the note ‘CLB 179. (CLB is an acronym for Canadian Labour Battalion). He was treated at the C.A.M.C. (Canadian Army Medical Corps - corps of military doctors, nursing sisters and other personnel providing medical treatment to soldiers.)
The C.C.D. was likely Canadian Convalescent Depot (facility where soldiers could recover from wounds and rebuild their strength) where Gideon was located before returning to his unit.
Following a period of recovery Gideon returned to the Command Depot for service.
Gideon’s Medical Case Sheet identifies that he was with the 7th C.F.A. which could stand for either the Cavalry Field Ambulance or Canadian Field Ambulance – the unit responsible for evacuating the wounded from the front lines to medical centres.
The key to determining with whom Gideon served is possibly in the notation following 7th C.F.A. in the enlargement from the medical case sheet below:
In fact, Gideon would have appeared to have served in both capacities as the notation below demonstrates (From Gideons Medical History file):
In both roles, Gideon would have been near the front – obviously close enough to have received a Gun Shot Wound to his neck and shoulder.
On July 17, 1918 Gideon was awarded the M.M. (Military Medal - medal for bravery awarded to other ranks (non-officers).
Gideon received his discharge on November 13, 1919.
He was noted as an Acting Corporal at the time of his discharge and that he was in the Canadian Army Medical Corp.
His discharge papers noted that he served in France.
Anyone closely reading the notes above will have seen an apparent contradiction between the summary note that indicates that Gideon was wounded April 1 and the official record which suggests April 6. However, the excerpt below from the War Diary of the 7th Cavalry Ambulance confirms the April 1 date.
The April 1 reference, enlarged below states: "Pte Broderick and Shaw were wounded and evacuated."
