Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthMarch 18, 1897
Place of BirthFyvie, Aberdeenshire
CountryScotland
Marital StatusSingle
ReligionPresbyterian
Service Details
Regimental Number266381
Battalion6th Battalion
ForceBritish Expeditionary Force Expeditionary Force
BranchGordon Highlanders
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Date of EnlistmentMarch 1, 1915
Age at Enlistment18
Theatre of ServiceEurope
Survived WarYes
Decorations and MedalsMilitary Medal
Death Details
Date of Death19750531
Age at Death78
Buried AtLake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario
Plot1W-26-2

Mathewson, Alexander Charles

Alexander Charles Mathewson was born 18 March 1897 in Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He was the son of farm servant William and Isabella (née Paterson) Mathewson who had married on 29 December 1888 in the Chapel of Garrioch. He had four older siblings Jennie (Jane), William (both born prior to the marriage), Martha, and James and at least three younger siblings Mary, John, and Edward. By the time of the 1911 census Alexander was working as a servant for Robert Ellliot and his sister Jane Elliott in South Fyvie.

Although a service record was not found, according to his Legion application card, in March of 1915 Alexander enlisted in Keith, Scotland. His original unit was given as the 6th Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders. When he was discharged in March of 1919 at Kinross, Scotland he was serving as a Corporal with the 1st Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders. He earned the British War Medal, Victory Medal, and Military Medal for his service.

Alexander left Scotland, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia on 10 April 1920 aboard the Cassandra. He went to join his brother James, who was farming in Neepawa, Manitoba. His occupation at this time was listed as farm servant and groom. On 02 August 1927 he married Flora Elizabeth McIntyre in Neepawa, Manitoba. Born 1904 in the R.M. of Rosedale, Manitoba, Flora was the daughter of Murdoch and Adelaide (née Chatwin) McIntyre. Alexander and Flora eventually moved to Kenora, Ontario where Alex joined #12 branch of the Legion in 1941.

‘He was an interesting character who had an outwardly cantankerous disposition but I suspect a deeper heart in there somewhere as once he saved me when I got a huge sliver through the length of my entire foot and he carried me all the way to my aunt Annies up the back alley. He did however spit on my finger when I nicked it while whittling one day at my Aunt Annie’s. Aunt Annie sure laid into him that day!’ (from Alexander’s great niece as found on a family tree on ancestry.ca)

Flora passed away on 23 November 1970 and is buried in Lake of the Woods Cemetery in Kenora. Alexander died on 31 May 1975 in Kenora and is buried beside Flora, his grave unmarked. At the time of his death he was survived by his siblings James of Neepawa, Manitoba, Edward of Aberdeen, Scotland, and Mrs. Mary Glashan also of Aberdeen.

Mathewson-Alexander-Charles-2 Mathewson-Alexander-Charles-3 Mathewson-Alexander-Charles-4 Mathewson-Alexander-Charles-5 Mathewson-Alexander-Charles-6 Mathewson-Alexander-Charles-7

Photographs as found on public family trees on ancestry.ca
Alexander’s grave marker was installed in Lake of the Woods Cemetery in 2018 by the Last Post Fund.


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