Richard Charles Ardagh, the brother of Oscar, joined the 48th Highlanders on 18 October 1905 at the age of 20 and was discharged on 22 April 1910. Our records show him again as rejoining on 5 May 1911 in A Company and leaving the regiment on 10 October 1913. On 28 October 1912 he was in a train returning from Milton, Ontario where the regiment was conducting Thanksgiving manoeuvres and a sham fight when the train hit a parked train. He was injured as was his brother Oscar.

His Attestation Papers when he enlisted for WWI state he was with the 48th for 8 Years with the highest rank of Corporal. His papers also stated 18 months with the Queen’s Own Rifles. He attested with the 92nd Battalion, 48th Highlanders on 28 August 1915 and given the service number 192101.

Once in England he was transferred to the 73rd Battalion and then sent to France on 10 September 1916 to join the 24th Battalion. He was transferred on 28 May 1917 to the 10th CRT (Canadian Railway) and promoted to Sergeant on 4 August 1917. He was made Lieutenant on 31 May 1918. Following an illness, he returned to Canada and was struck off strength on 9 October 1919.

It appears from our records that he was with the 48th prior to the Second World War. He is shown in December 1939 embarking from Halifax with the 1st Battalion and the rank of CQMS in A Company and the service number B73516. Our history, Dileas, has him on pages 66 and 72-8 and call him Dick Ardagh. He would have been 52 years old at the time. He isn’t in any of our records after that date so must have transferred, likely while in England.

NOK: Mrs. Sarah Ardagh, 42 Dupont Street, Toronto; later 58 Dupont Street and again later 111 Oakwood Avenue.