MacArtair, Alasdair

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Alasdair MacArtair
30 August 1883 – 17 April 1961
Place of birth Bootle, Lancashire, England
Place of death Esquimalt, British Columbia
Allegiance Canada
Service/branch Canadian/Imperial Army
Rank Second-Lieutenant
Awards DCM
Alasdair MacArtair, also known as Alasdair MacArthur, (30 August 1883 - 17 April 1961) was a British and Canadian soldier who served in the Great War where he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Early Life

Alasdair was born at Bootle, Lancashire, England on 30 August 1883.

Service

Alasdair served as a Private in the 8th (Scottish) Volunteer Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment in the Imperial Army from December 1900 until March 1903 where he first learned Signalling duties. After his service, he moved to Canada where he worked as a builder until the outbreak of the Great War. He enlisting in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Valcartier Quebec on 23 September 1914 and sailed to England aboard S.S. Andania on 7 October 1914.

Originally a member of the 16th Battalion, he was transferred to 1st Canadian Divisional Signal Company in February 1915. He embarked for France in March 1915 as a member of No. 4 Section in support of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade as a Sapper. For his actions between 22 and 25 April 1915 during the the heavy fighting at St. Julien-Ypres he was awarded the DCM.[1]

He was granted a temporary commission in the Royal Engineers in the Imperial Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in April 1916.[2] After originally being attached to 3rd Brigade, he served as a Signalling Officer in XIV and IX Corps where he seems to have been frequently moved between Signal Companies. In August 1917, after having received an adverse report on his performance, he was ordered to England. He disputed the report but to no avail and he was compelled to resign his commission in October 1917.[3]

Distinguished Conduct Medal

The citation for Alasdair MacArtair's DCM reads:[4]

For conspicuous gallantry on 22nd to 25th April, 1915, when telephone lines were down, in carrying orders, under heavy shell and rifle fire, to St. Julien-Ypres Salient.

Personal Life

Alasdair settled in Victoria/Esquimalt British Columbia sometime after the war.

He attended the unveiling of the Vimy Memorial in 1936.[5]

He died in Esquimalt on 17 April 1961.[6]

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References and Notes

  1. The London Gazette, Supplement 29202. 23 June, 1915. Page 6134.
  2. The London Gazette, Supplement 29585. 16 May, 1916. Page 4939.
  3. The London Gazette, Supplement 30352. 26 October, 1917. Page 11017.
  4. The London Gazette, Supplement 29212. 29 June, 2015. Page 6387.
  5. Vimy Pilgrimage Roll (1936), The Regimental Rogue
  6. B13251, British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency.