Concanon | Edmond George | | Lieutenant | CONCANON, EDMOND GEORGE, Lieutenant, was born 24 June, 1875, in London, son of James Blake Concanon, Athenry, County Galway, Ireland. He was educated privately, and joined the 16th Middlesex Volunteers (London Irish Rifles), later the 18th Battalion London Irish Rifles. He served in South Africa with the City Imperial Volunteers, Mounted Infantry, and was present in operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (17 to 26 February); action at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Karee Siding and Houtnek (Thoba Mountain); operations in the Transvaal in May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June); operations in Orange River Colony, including actions at Belfast (26 and 27 August), Lydenberg (5 to 8 September) and Wittebergen (1 to 20 July). He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901]; received the Queen's Medal with seven clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "Edmond George Concanon, Lieutenant, City Imperial Volunteers (Captain, 16th Middlesex Volunteers, London Irish Rifles). In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was invested by the King 29 October 1901. He was gazetted Lieutenant Colonel to command the 18th Battalion The London Regiment, London Irish Rifles, in November 1913, and in that year received the Territorial Decoration. He trained this regiment, and took it out to France in March, 1915; was invalided home in May 1915, and afterwards commanded the 32nd Battalion The London Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Concanon was mentioned in Despatches for services rendered in the war in February 1917. He married, 18 October 1901, at Bray, Berkshire, Bertha Bekford Syvret, only daughter of T Gosselin, of Bagot, Jersey, and their children were: Edmond James Blake, born 27 March 1906 and Patrick Henry Gosselin, born in June, 1910.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | City Imperial Volunteers |