Kenora Great War Project

 

Personal Details
Date of BirthMay 23, 1884
Place of BirthGlasgow
CountryScotland
Marital StatusMarried
Next of KinMrs Ruth Matilda Anderson, 146 McPhail St., Winnipeg, Manitoba
Trade / CallingMillwright
ReligionPresbyterian
Service Details
Regimental Number1038017
Service Record Link to Service Record
Battalion238th Battalion
ForceCanadian Expeditionary Force
BranchCanadian Infantry
Enlisted / ConscriptedEnlisted
Address at EnlistmentKeewatin
Date of EnlistmentAugust 8, 1916
Age at Enlistment32
Theatre of ServiceGreat Britain
Prisoner of WarNo
Survived WarYes
Death Details
Date of DeathMay 17, 1974
Age at Death90

Anderson, Alexander Carmichael

Alexander Carmichael Anderson was born on 24 May 1884 in Glasgow, Scotland. His parents were John Orr Anderson and Alice Roy Houston. John worked as a master joiner in Scotland. Siblings included: John (1875-1949), William (1881-1881), Alice (1886-1961) and Agnes (b. 1890).

In 1905 Alexander and some of his family (father, mother & sister Agnes) immigrated to Canada. They are found on the 1906 Census living in Winnipeg, Manitoba. On 02 June 1909 Alexander married Ruth Matilda Coltman. They had a daughter, Alice Roy who was born in March 1910 and passed away 5 months later. At some point Alexander gained employment at the flour mill in Keewatin. An accident in 1913 resulted in the loss of three fingers on Alexander’s left hand. He and Ruth had a son, Ervin William, in 1914.

On 08 August 1916 Alexander enlisted with the 238th Battalion in Kenora, Ontario. He listed his occupation as millwright and gave his wife (who was living in Winnipeg) as his next of kin. He embarked from Halifax in September of 1916. Upon his arrival in England he was transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps. Alexander served with this unit for the next two years eight months in England.  He was appointed Acting Corporal in August of 1917. He was bothered by a hernia and was hospitalized with it from 12 February 1919 to 31 March 1919. In June of 1919 Alexander returned to Canada aboard the S. S. Lapland. When he received his official discharge due to demobilization on 13 June 1919 he stated his intended place of residence was Vancouver, B.C.

Alexander separated from his wife in 1919 and moved to British Columbia.  He worked as a carpenter in the construction business. Alexander died on 17 May 1974 at Shaughnessy Hospital in Vancouver. He was single at the time. He was cremated and his remains were placed in care of Garden Hill Funeral Chapel, Port Coquitlam.

Alexander is commemorated on the Lake of the Woods Milling Company plaque and the Town of Keewatin Plaque both formerly on display in the Legion Building in Keewatin.

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