Vivian Hartley Church Abbott was the eldest son of David Charles Abbott and Charlotte Elizabeth Abbott. Vivian was born in Fivemiletown on 5th October 1881. The 1901 census lists Vivian as age 19, living at Military Barracks at The Curragh, Kildare. Vivian Abbott served for one year with the South African Army and fought in the Boer War. Vivian and his wife Eleanor Abbott emigrated to Canada. On enlisting, his wife was living in Mission City, British Columbia. Vivian Abbott was working as a surveyor's chainman when he enlisted on 15th June 1916 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Private Vivian Abbott was serving with the ‘D’ Company, 29th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry when he was killed in action during the battle for Hill 70 at Lens on 21 August 1917. He was 36 years old.
Further Information
Vivian Hartley Church Abbott was the eldest son of David Charles Abbott and Charlotte Elizabeth Abbott. David Abbott married Charlotte Church on 31 December 1879 in Limavady.
Vivian H C Abbott was born in Fivemiletown on 5th October 1881.
Family: David Charles Abbott, Charlotte Elizabeth Abbott, Vivian Hartley Church Abbott (born 5th October 1881, Clogher District), Wilfred Abbott (born 3rd June 1883, Clogher District), Alicia Abbott (born about 4th April 1885, Clogher District), Herbert Henry B Abbott (born about 1888, County Monaghan), Muriel B T Abbott (born about 1890, County Monaghan), Charlotte Olivia Abbott (born about 1891, County Monaghan).
By the time of the 1901 census, the family had moved to Tedavnet, County Monaghan. Vivian was not living with the family. His father was a Rector and Canon with the Church of Ireland.
The 1901 census lists Vivian as age 19, living at Military Barracks at The Curragh, Kildare.
Vivian Abbott served for one year with the South African Army and fought in the Boer War.
Sometime after 1901 Vivian Abbott married Eleanor Bell Riddell, the daughter of Henry Riddell, a Civil and Mechanical Engineer from Belfast. The 1901 census records Eleanor as a 20 year old art student.
The 1911 Canadian census does not list a Vivian Abbott.
Vivian and Eleanor Abbott emigrated to Canada. On enlisting, his wife was living in Mission City, British Columbia.
Herbert Abbott, Vivian’s brother, was living in Canada and served in the war.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 6th February 1915: Herbert Henry B Abbott (brother of Vivian Abbott)
Mr H H B Abbott, who is a son of Rev D C Abbott, Archdeacon of Clogher, has received a commission in the 102nd Regiment (Mountain Rangers) at Vancouver, British Columbia. Lieutenant Abbott holds the record for the length of time at Dungannon Royal School, which he entered in 1899, and after obtaining Intermediate Exhibitions in the junior, middle and senior grades, left in 1907 to take up engineering. He was popularly known amongst the boys as ‘Bunny’, and was an enthusiastic cricket and rugby player. On one occasion whilst playing in a football match against Campbell College, Lieutenant Abbott received a nasty blow on the head which rendered him hors-de-combat. A few minutes later Lieutenant Abbott resumed, and the players and spectators were surprised to see him pitch up the ball and sprint towards his own line and ground behind the posts. The next morning he remembered nothing about the match. Lieutenant Abbott will shortly accompany his regiment to England, and pay Dungannon a visit, if possible. If he does he will be sure of a hearty welcome.
Vivian Abbott was working as a surveyor's chainman when he enlisted on 15th June 1916 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Following training in Canada Private Abbot arrived in Liverpool England on 22 November 1916
After further training, Private Abbott arrived at the Western Front in 22 January 1917.
Vivian's father died in Monaghan on 22nd April 1917, aged 74 years. He was the Archdeacon of Clogher, Ireland. Private Abbott was granted leave in May 1917.
Private Vivian Abbott was serving with the 'D' Company, 29th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry when he was killed in action during the battle for Hill 70 at Lens on 21 August 1917. He was 36 years old.
The battalion was also known as the British Columbia Regiment. They lost 138 men on that one day.
The Canadian Circumstances of Death Register records that Private Abbot was reported wounded and missing, but for official purposes, he was presumed to have died on or since 21st August 1917. On the night of his death, the battalion were involved in severe fighting in the Lens sector, the approximate area of operations recorded as N-13-b and N-14-a Sht.36c. S.W.
After Vivian's death, his wife Eleanor returned to Belfast.
Private Vivian Abbott has no known grave, and is commemorated on Vimy Memorial.
There is a memorial plaque to Private Vivian Abbott in St Dympna's Church of Ireland, Ballinode, County Monaghan.
The CWGC record Private Vivian Abbott as the son of the Venerable the late Archdeacon of Clogher, Ireland, and his wife, the late Charlotte E. Church. They also record him as the husband of Eleanor Bell Abbott (nee Riddell), of 51, Myrtlefield Park, Belfast, Ireland.
