Personal Details | |
Date of Birth | July 20, 1896 |
Place of Birth | Maybole, Ayrshire |
Country | Scotland |
Marital Status | Single |
Next of Kin | Mother: Mrs. J. W. Gordon - Keewatin, Ontario |
Trade / Calling | Clerk |
Religion | Presbyterian |
Service Details | |
Regimental Number | 198544 |
Service Record | Link to Service Record |
Battalion | 16th Battalion |
Force | Canadian Expeditionary Force |
Branch | Canadian Infantry |
Enlisted / Conscripted | Enlisted |
Address at Enlistment | Keewatin, Ontario |
Date of Enlistment | December 23, 1915 |
Age at Enlistment | 19 |
Theatre of Service | Europe |
Prisoner of War | No |
Survived War | Yes |
Death Details | |
Date of Death | May 11, 1971 |
Age at Death | 75 |
Buried At | Lake of the Woods Cemetery, Kenora, Ontario |
Plot | 0E-31-4 |
Alexander (Dud) Gordon was born July 20, 1896 in Maybole, Scotland to James Wm McLeod & Helen Douglas (Gibson) Gordon. Dud arrived in Canada aboard the SS Corinthian with his parents and two siblings, coming directly to Keewatin, Ontario on September 1, 1906 (from his father, James’ diary). Two more siblings, James and Helen, were born in 1908 – the first set of twins born in Keewatin.
Dud attended school in Keewatin, leaving school at an early age to clerk in a local general store. He enlisted with the 94thBattalion on December 23, 1915 in Kenora, Ontario. Sailing from Halifax on June 28, 1916 aboard the SS Olympic, he arrived in Liverpool, England on July 5, 1916. He transferred to the 17th Reserve Battalion and embarked for France on August 27, 1916. He joined the 16th battalion September 28, 1916 and was appointed Lance Corporal on October 8, 1916.
On April 9, 1917, Dud was wounded at Vimy Ridge. A machine gun bullet passed through his left leg from back to front, missing the bone. He was sent to #8 Red Cross Hospital in Le Touquet on April 11, 1917. From there he was invalided to Cambridge Hospital at Aldershot, England on April 20, 1917. He received treatment there and at several other convalescent homes until November 8, 1918. During this time, he developed a trophic ulcer on his left foot which needed to be cut out. In July 1918, he transferred to the 11th reserve Battalion and reverted to the rank of private in October 1918. Back to the 16th Battalion returning to France on November 8, 1918 and received a field promotion to Corporal on February 22, 1919. On March 8, 1919 he was admitted to 9 Canadian Special Hospital in Camiers with continuing medical issues and was discharged April 24, 1919. He left France in May 1919 and transferred to 18th Reserve Battalion until his return to Canada, arriving in Halifax on June 20, 1919 aboard the Aquitania. He was discharged on June 23, 1919 at Port Arthur, Ontario from the 18th Canadian Reserve Battalion with the rank of Private.
Dud returned to Keewatin, Ontario where he worked at various establishments in Keewatin. On April 27, 1929 he married Viola Hansen. They had one son, Alan Alexander Gordon, in 1931. Dud had many interests – he was an adherent of St. Andrew’s United Church, Keewatin, Past Master of the Masonic Lodge in Keewatin, No. 417 AF& AM and played hockey in Kenora, Brandon, MB, and Fort William, Ontario. Dud was the school janitor for the Keewatin Public School for 25 years retiring June 1, 1966.
Dud passed away on May 11, 1971, and Vi on December 12, 1981. Both are buried in the Lake of the Woods Cemetery in Kenora, Ontario.