Date Published:
2004

L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia

Lieut.-Col. Robert Bickerdike, D.S.O.

Consulting Engineer, 164 St. James Street , Montreal. Born Montreal, Sept. 30th, 1869, son of Robert and Helen Thompson (Reid) Bickerdike, both of Montreal. Educated: Common Schools and Montreal Business College; McGill University (B.A. Sc., 1891; Ma.E., 1895). 1889-1890, Instrument man on present C.P.R. short line, Montreal to Ottawa; 1891, Asst. in Charge, McGill College Observatory; 1892, Asst. Engr., United Counties Ry.; 1893, Asst. Engineer, C.P.R., on Atlantic & North Western ky.; Asst. Engineer, extension Drummond County Ry. ; 1894, Demonstrator of Surveying, McGill College; 1895 and 1896, Asst. Engineer, Montreal Harbour Works; 1897-1904, Dept. Public Works, St. Lawrence River, Montreal to Quebec; 1904-1908, Dept. Marine, St. Lawrence above Montreal; 1909 and 1910, Asst. Engineer, National Transcontinental Railway; 1911-12, with J. H. Hunter, Consulting Engineer, Montreal; 1913 and 1914, The Canada Starch Co., Ltd., on construction of plant at Port William; 1919, on demobilization, was employed by The Canada Starch Co., Ltd., on alterations and additions to plants at Cardinal, Ont., and Port William, Ont.; 1921, private practice as Consulting Engineer. Member, Engineering Institute of Canada; Member, Institution of Civil Engineers; Member, Corporation of Professional Engineers of Quebec. 1904, Provisional Lieutenant, 86th Regiment. Qualified at Quebec and was Orderly Officer at Three Rivers Camp, 1904. In winter of 1905-1906, resigned commission on leaving district; 1914, when war was declared, joined 58th Regt., Westmount Rifles on organization; was actively employed recruiting for 23rd Battn. and 60th Battn. Qualified as Captain and Field Officer at Halifax, and joined 87th Bttn. on organization. In June, 1916, took draft of reinforcements from 87th Battn. to Poperinghe but was returned to England; In August, 1916, to France as Captain in 87th Bttn. (with 4th Div.), and saw service in the Ypres salient; was present at Battles of Somme, Vimy Ridge, Lens-Avion, Hill 70, Passchendaele, Amiens, Arras, Cambrai and Valenciennes-Mons. Wounded seriously at the Somme , 21-10-16 and slightly at Cambrai, 1-10-18. Twice mentioned in Despatches, L.G. No. 30448, 28-12-17, and L.G. No. 31448, 11-7-19. Awarded the Distinguished Service Order for 1917, L.G. No. 30450, 1-1-18; Bar to Distinguished Service Order for Cambrai, L.G. No. 31183, 15-2-19. Promoted Major, Feb. 21, 1917; promoted Lieut.-Col. Mar. 8, 1919. Returned to Canada in command of 87th Bttn., and on demobilization, June 12, 1919, was transferred to Royal Montreal Rgt. In July, 1920, transferred to Reserve of Officers. Clubs: Engineers'; Royal St. Lawrence Yacht; Lachine Rowing; N.A.A.A.; Summerlea Golf Club. Recreations: Aquatic sports, shooting. Liberal. Anglican. Residence: Lachine, Que.

Source: Prominent People of the Province of Quebec, 1923-24, Montreal, Biographical Society of Canada, Limited, undated and unpaginated.