Alexander Gowan's signature

On this day in 1914 Alex Gowan, a machinist, signed up in Valcartier, Quebec. He was born on January 5, 1894 in Deseronto, the son of William Gowan and Sarah (née Stewart).

On his attestation paper Alex was described as being five feet and seven inches tall, with a dark complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Gowan had previously served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps for one and a half years. His regimental number in the 14th Battalion  was 26656. Gowan’s service record shows that his unit sailed for England on October 3rd, 1914. He served in France with the 1st Canadian Field Ambulance

Gowan was injured on April 29th, 1915 at the Second Battle of Ypres with a gunshot wound to the shoulder. He spent six weeks in hospital and rejoined his unit in June, serving with them in France for the rest of the war.

Gowan sailed home on the RMS Olympic, leaving Southampton on April 14th, 1919. He was demobilized on April 23rd. After the war Gowan worked as a chauffeur. He married Tera Evelyn Miles in Ottawa on October 4th, 1923. He died on December 29th, 1961.