Source: Per record of promotion for Arthur Dugald Norvall, reg. no. 1263356.
Family Search: “When John Alexander McDougall was born on 30 September 1888, in Lucknow, Bruce, Ontario, Canada, his father, John McDougall, was 30 and his mother, Flora Catherine McDougall, was 27. He married Elizabeth Jane Flood on 4 May 1914, in Port Elgin, Saugeen Shores, Bruce, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 1 son. He lived in Arran Township, Bruce, Ontario, Canada in 1901 and Paisley, Brockton, Bruce, Ontario, Canada in 1921. He registered for military service in 1914. In 1914, at the age of 26, his occupation is listed as farmer. He died on 20 February 1947, in London, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 58, and was buried in Starkvale Cemetery, Paisley, Arran-Elderslie, Bruce, Ontario, Canada.
From Belgium
John McDougall, who is on the transport section with the Candian troops, writes a short letter home m in which he says he is enjoying the best of health. Gordon Daniel is still in the same section and is keeping fine. Saw Tom Babcock and Sam Fleming the other day, but had not seen Andy Babcock or Sam Tooke for some time, as they are in the trenches. We don’t be up there long enough at a time to get around to see any of the boys. We go up to the trenches every night with our teams, and it sure is exciting to hear the bullets singing over our heads and the shell bursting quite near, but none of our section has been hit yet. We are in a shack now, built of sand bags with pole roof covered with sods, so it just looks just like the huts we built in the west. There are six of us in routes. Most of the others are dug-outs big enough for two. I suppose you will have a little more insight into our work since the lecture at the fair. But you can’t form any opinion of it at all. It is much different to what I ever thought it was, and I can assure you its is just a dangerous as you could ever imagine. Gordon Daniel gets the Paisley paper very week. I noticed by it that Mrs. Robt. Brown is dead.
Paisley Advocate. November 3, 1915. Contributed by Jim Kelly.
Pte. McDougall Wounded
On Monday Mr. John McDougall, of Elora road north, received a cablegram informing him that his son, Pte. John Alex McDougall, had been admitted to the First War Hospital at Birmingham, suffering from a gunshot would in the side. Further particulars of the casualty will be received later. Pte. McDougall enlisted in November 1914, and went overseas with a transport corps. He was on transport service at the front for a time, but last spring was transferred to the Pioneers. It is hope that his would is not serious.
Paisley Advocate. September 27, 1916. Contributed by Jim Kelly.
Soldiers Arrive
Sergt. John McDougall, who arrived from overseas last week, and is at his home, Elora Road north, was accompanied by two khaki chums, Q.M. Sergt. F.G. Pack and Sergt. E. Thomas. These three had been sent from France to England in September last to take the officer’s training course, which the armistice made it unnecessary to complete. Sergt. McDougall enlisted in October 1914, with the 18th Batt., and went overseas in April 1915. He crossed to France in Sept., 1915, and for a few months was on the transport service, but transferred to the infantry and remained with that branch until the finish. He was wounded at the Somme in Sept., 1916, a parcel of shrapnel lodging in his back. Pte. Wilmer J. Sparrow came over on the Baltic and reached home here on Monday. He is a son of Mr. Wm. Sparrow, Goldie St., and a former member of the Advocate staff. He enlisted with the artillery in 1915, but transferred to the 160th when the battalion was organized and was made a corporal, which rank he held until going to France last spring. On Aug 31st he was wounded in the eye and leg, and put out of action for the remainder of the war.Paisley Advocate.
February 12, 1919. Contributed by Jim Kelly.
PRESENTATION TO RETURNED SOlDIERS
The home of Mr. and Mrs. John McDougall, Elora Road north, was the scene of a big surprise party on Friday evening last, when a very large number of people of the section gathered unbidden and made a presentation to a son of the household and two of his soldier chums who have just returned from overseas after enduring the hardships of military training and actual war for over four years. Sergt. John McDougall was made the recipient of a gold watch, while Q.M. Sergt. Pack and Sergt. Thomas were each given a gold signet ring. The following address was read by Miss Edna Cumming, expressed the sentiment of the donors:
To Our Returned Heroes:
We, your friends and neighbours, have gathered here this evening to honor you and show as best we can our heartfelt appreciation of your noble services in this most terrible conflict into which the world has be plunged for four long years. It was with throbbing hearts and bated breath that we all watched for the most welcome news which rang over the wires that the armistice had been signed. Then our next uplifting joy was to look forward to the return or our dear boys. With anxious eyes we glanced down the list of the names quoted as the boards arrived, and what an extreme pleasure it was when we saw the name of the hero who we are here to honor to-night. We deem it only our duty not to forget your noble comrades who are present with us to-night, as they shared alike in the hardships and privations of warfare to help free our nation for German militarism. What we owe to each and all of you is far beyond our estimation, but we know that you have ever kept before you the motto, “What we have we shall hold.” We feel highly honored to see you in possession of the rank as lieutenants, and of having made the honorable sacrifices we know you must have made. We welcome you back to our vicinity and all extend to you our heartiest congratulations. Therefore we ask you to accept this small token as an appreciation of your noble services.
Signed on behalf of your friends and neighbours – Donald Armstron, Neil McArthur, Ike Beech.
Mr. Dodger Darroch was chairman for the evening, and under his direction an impromptu programme was rendered, including songs by Miss Alma Fraser and Neil McArthur, recitation by Pte. Albert Muir, Highland dancing my Miss Ruth McDougall, music by the string band, short speeches by Messrs. S. Winch and J. McDougall, the latter extending the freedom of the home to the company, and which was taken advantage of for several hours’ enjoyment in dancing and social entertainment.
Paisley Advocate. February 19, 1919. Contributed by Jim Kelly.
War Diary of the 18th Battalion CEF 