Personal Details | |
Date of Birth | December 8, 1899 |
Place of Birth | Gretna, Dumfries-shire |
Country | Scotland |
Marital Status | Single |
Next of Kin | MH Farquhar, mother, Ivy Park, Dornock, East Riggs, Dumfries, Scotland |
Service Details | |
Regimental Number | 175516 |
Service Record | see images below |
Battalion | 148th Squadron |
Force | Royal Air Force |
Branch | 6th Brigade |
Survived War | Yes |
Death Details | |
Date of Death | June 22, 1972 |
Age at Death | 72 |
Buried At | Woodland Cemetery, London, Ontario |
Plot | QE-56-6 |
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.