Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthDecember 8, 1899
Place of BirthGretna, Dumfries-shire
CountryScotland
Marital StatusSingle
Next of KinMH Farquhar, mother, Ivy Park, Dornock, East Riggs, Dumfries, Scotland
Service Details
Regimental Number175516
Service Recordsee images below
Battalion148th Squadron
ForceRoyal Air Force
Branch6th Brigade
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathJune 22, 1972
Age at Death72
Buried AtWoodland Cemetery, London, Ontario
PlotQE-56-6

Farquhar, Alexander Stiven

Alexander Stiven Farquhar was born on 08 December 1899 in Gretna, Dumfries-shire, Scotland. He was the youngest son of school master Alexander Farquhar and his wife Margaret Armstrong. Siblings included Jessie, Isabella, Thomas John, Jean, Andrew, Henry and Maggie.

When Alex turned 18 he enlisted with the RAF in Dumfries, Scotland. His occupation at the time was assistant surveyor. On 31 August 1918 Alex was attached to the 148th Wing Squadron of the 6th Brigade. On 20 October 1918 he was attached to the British Expeditionary Force. The London Gazette recorded that he and several other flight cadets were granted temporary commands as 2nd Lieutenants (observer officer). On 18 April 1919 Alex was returned to the 6th Brigade for dispersal. He was discharged on 10 May 1919 at Kinross, Scotland.

Alex immigrated to Canada arriving on 20 August 1923 aboard the ship ‘Regina’. He was 23 years old, single and listed his occupation as surveyor. His intention was to work and remain permanently in Canada. His destination was Teeswater, Ontario.

On 06 April 1928 he married Lily Cheyne in Fort William (Thunder Bay), Ontario. He was working as a field engineer at the time. Their son, David Stiven Farquhar, was born in 1930 in Port Arthur (Thunder Bay), Ontario. The following year the family visited Scotland.

They returned to Canada and in 1935 were living in Kenora, Ontario where Alex was employed as a mill hand. While in Kenora Alex joined the Royal Canadian Legion. He and Lily had another son, Gordon A. Farquhar.

A 1962 voters’ list shows Alex and Lily living on 3281 Capricorn Crescent in Peel, Ontario. Alex’s occupation is listed as ‘superintendent of construction’.

Alexander Farquhar died on 22 June 1972 in London, Ontario and is buried in Woodland Cemetery, London.  He was survived by his wife, sons, and sister Margaret. Lily Farquhar, passed away on 20 August 1978 and is interred beside Alexander.

Grave marker photograph by jan, ID # 50119773, findagrave.com.


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