Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthApril 28, 1897
Place of BirthMaybole, Ayrshire
CountryScotland
Marital StatusSingle
Next of KinMrs. Elizabeth Fisher of Keewatin, Ontario
Trade / CallingLabourer
ReligionChurch of England
Service Details
Regimental Number439216
Service Record Link to Service Record
Battalion52nd Battalion
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Address at EnlistmentKeewatin, Ontario
Date of EnlistmentMay 20, 1915
Age at Enlistment18
Theatre of ServiceEurope
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathJune 8, 1964
Age at Death67
Buried AtCourtenay Civic Cemetery, Courtenay, BC
PlotJ-107

Fisher, Alexander Wilson

Alexander (Sandy) Wilson Fisher was born on 28 April 1898 in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland. His parents were William Fisher and Elizabeth Armour. Coming from a large family his siblings included: John (b. 1878), William (b. 1882), Charles (b. 1883), Mary (b. 1886), James (b. 1890), Janet (b. 1894), Elizabeth (b. 1896), David (1899-1899), Isobel (b. 1901), Agnes (b. 1903).   In May 1907, Alexander immigrated to Canada, arriving with his father and siblings John, Mary and Elizabeth on the Corinthian. The passenger list showed they were going to Keewatin, Ontario.  By 1911 the family shows up in Pellatt Township (just outside Keewatin) and father William, brother William and brother James were working a labourers in the flour mill. Two sisters, Janet and Elizabeth were working as domestics in Keewatin.  Brother, Charles was living in Keewatin with his wife and daughter (both named Agnes) and he was also working at the flour mill.

On 20 May 1915, Alexander enlisted with the 52nd Battalion in Kenora, Ontario.  He added a year to his real age to qualify.   In June he was part of the 3rd contingent of men being raised for WW1 that left for training in Port Arthur.  He sailed for England with the 52nd Battalion aboard the S.S. California on 23 November 1915. It wasn’t until February 21st, 1916, that he was sent to France. As part of the 52nd Battalion, he and his mates were joined to the 9th Brigade in Belgium. For the next  years his war was in the trenches of Belgium and France. By November, Alexander was ill with PUO, meaning a high temperature with unknown origin. He was sent to convalescent camp in Boulogne, France.

In 1917, he was awarded a good conduct medal, though the reasons were not stated.  In August 1918, he had a wound  to his left leg (ICT), and was sent to the 14th Canadian Field Ambulance station for recovery. He was back to duty in September, but soon wounded again in October by a piece of shrapnel that severed the  middle finger of his left hand.  This time he was sent to England where he convalesced until December. The war being over by this time, he remained in England until  1919, when he was  sent home to Halifax on the S. S. Baltic, arriving February 2nd 1919. His discharge papers stated he was well healed, and though with temporary loss of strength in his left hand, this would lessen over time. According to Alexander’s Legion membership application he was discharged in Winnipeg on 10 March 1919. His total time of army duty was 32 months, in Belgium and in France.

Alexander returned to Keewatin and on 23 June 1919 he married Olive May Faulkner.  At this time he was a teamster. The 1921 Canadian Census shows Alexander and Olive living in Kenora with their son, Alex.

In 1936 Alexander moved to Victoria, BC.  An entry in ‘The History of Keewatin – 1873-1973’ by the Keewatin Senior Citizens Silver Threads Club p.202 says that Alexander was also a veteran of WW2.  His  tenure was  short however, enlisting on September 4th, 1940 in Macauley B.C., then put on reserve status on April 10th, 1941. At some point he married Winnifred Alma Watson.  He worked as a gardener from 1957 to 1964.

Alexander died in the Veteran’s Hospital, Victoria BC on 08 June 1964.  At the time of his death he was survived by his wife Winnifred, daughter Joyce of Comox, and sons Alex, Leonard, and Vincent of Vancouver. He was also survived by two brothers and five sisters. He was buried in Courtenay Civic Cemetery in Courtenay, BC.

by Penny Beal

Kenora Miner and News: 8 December 1915
obituary: courtesy of Mike Melen
grave marker photos: Doug Nelson (Alexander) and brainmd (Winnifred), findagrave.com

Fisher-Alexander-Wilson-1 Fisher-Alexander-Wilson-3 Fisher-Alexander-Wilson-2 Fisher-Alexander-Wilson-5 Fisher-Alexander-Wilson-6 Fisher-Alexander-Wilson-5

 


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