Signalman Archie Rowat

Archie MacKenzie Rowat was born at Athelstan, Quebec, on 2 May 1902, one of eight children of Dr. William Rowat and Mary Louisa Miles. A linesman when he enlisted in the Canadian Active Army on 15 August 1941, he trained in signals and motor mechanics and served overseas with 2 Canadian Divisional Signals in the United Kingdom and Northwest Europe. He landed in France in July 1944 and served through France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany before returning to Canada and being discharged honourably as a Signalman on 28 November 1945. He spent much of his civilian life farming, first at Powerscourt and later on the Fourth Concession of Elgin. An active sportsman, he played ball, skated and played hockey; in retirement he enjoyed gardening, fishing and card games. He and his family were long associated with the Athelstan area. Rowat died at Huntingdon County Hospital on 31 October 1980, aged 78, and was buried in Athelstan Protestant Cemetery.

1902-05-02 — Born at Athelstan, Quebec.
1921-12-14 — Married on 14 December 1921.
1941-08-15 — Attested in the Canadian Active Army at Montreal South, Quebec — Montreal South, Quebec / Canadian Active Army.
1941-08-28 — Proceeded on command to No. 13 District Depot at Montreal, Quebec, for a trade test — Montreal, Quebec / No. 13 District Depot.
1941-08-28 — Developed a blister on the right heel at Montreal, Quebec, after his shoe irritated the heel.
1941-09-03 — Admitted to St. Anne's Hospital at Montreal, Quebec, with an infected right-heel blister and cellulitis — Montreal, Quebec / St. Anne's Hospital.
1941-09-19 — Discharged from St. Anne's Hospital at Montreal, Quebec, after treatment of the right-heel infection — Montreal, Quebec / St. Anne's Hospital.
1941-09-25 — Medical Board at Montreal, Quebec, placed him in Category D for two weeks' convalescence at home — Montreal, Quebec / Medical Board.
1941-10-16 — Proceeded on command to No. 4 District Depot at Montreal, Quebec, for classification — Montreal, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1941-10-17 — Proceeded on command and was attached for all purposes to CA(B)TC 41 at Huntingdon, Quebec — Huntingdon, Quebec / CA(B)TC 41.
1942-01-09 — Ceased attachment at Huntingdon, Quebec, and returned to the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals at Kingston, Ontario — Kingston, Ontario / R.C.C.S..
1942-01-11 — Posted as a Fitter/Machinist trade trainee at Kingston, Ontario — Kingston, Ontario / 3A District Depot.
1942-02-02 — Ceased to be shown as a Fitter/Machinist trade trainee and was posted to Motor Mechanic training at Kingston, Ontario — Kingston, Ontario / 3A District Depot.
1942-03-31 — Qualified as Motor Mechanic Group A at Kingston, Ontario — Kingston, Ontario / R.C.C.S..
1942-05-28 — Forfeited three days' pay for absence without leave at Kingston, Ontario — Kingston, Ontario / 3A District Depot.
1942-05-31 — Qualified Motor Mechanic Group B at Kingston, Ontario — Kingston, Ontario / R.C.C.S..
1942-06-01 — Completed four months of Technical School training in motor mechanics at Kingston, Ontario — Kingston, Ontario / Canadian Signals Training Centre.
1942-06-02 — Taken on strength Canadian Signals Training Centre at Kingston, Ontario, as a reinforcement — Kingston, Ontario / Canadian Signals Training Centre.
1942-08-05 — Struck off strength at Kingston, Ontario, on posting overseas with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals — Kingston, Ontario / R.C.C.S..
1942-08-17 — Embarked from Canada for overseas service with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals — Canada / R.C.C.S..
1942-08-19 — Taken on strength Canadian Army Overseas in the United Kingdom with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals — United Kingdom / R.C.C.S..
1942-08-25 — Disembarked in the United Kingdom and was taken on strength Canadian Army Overseas — United Kingdom / R.C.C.S..
1942-09-24 — Struck off strength 1 Canadian Signals Reinforcement Unit and taken on strength 2 Canadian Divisional Signals in the United Kingdom — United Kingdom / 1 Canadian Signals Reinforcement Unit / 2 Canadian Divisional Signals.
1943-01-19 — Granted proficiency pay while serving with 2 Canadian Divisional Signals in the United Kingdom — United Kingdom / 2 Canadian Divisional Signals.
1943-06-17 — Qualified Driver Class III while serving with 2 Canadian Divisional Signals in the United Kingdom — United Kingdom / 2 Canadian Divisional Signals.
1943-12-01 — Qualified Driver Class I while serving with 2 Canadian Divisional Signals in the United Kingdom — United Kingdom / 2 Canadian Divisional Signals.
1944-01-15 — Awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp while serving with 2 Canadian Divisional Signals in the United Kingdom — United Kingdom / 2 Canadian Divisional Signals.
1944-06-09 — Qualified Fitter (Signals) B while serving with 2 Canadian Divisional Signals in the United Kingdom — United Kingdom / 2 Canadian Divisional Signals.
1944-07-04 — Embarked from the United Kingdom with 2 Canadian Divisional Signals for Northwest Europe — United Kingdom / 2 Canadian Divisional Signals.
1944-07-05 — Began Northwest Europe service with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals — Northwest Europe / R.C.C.S..
1944-07-06 — Disembarked in France with 2 Canadian Divisional Signals — France / 2 Canadian Divisional Signals.
1944-08-30 — Qualified Fitter (Signals) A while serving with 2 Canadian Divisional Signals in Northwest Europe — Northwest Europe / 2 Canadian Divisional Signals.
1944-12-09 — Granted trade Fitter A while serving in the field with 2 Canadian Divisional Signals — Northwest Europe / 2 Canadian Divisional Signals.
1945-10-10 — Ended overseas service after service in the United Kingdom and Northwest Europe — Northwest Europe / R.C.C.S..
1945-10-11 — Taken on strength No. 4 District Depot at Montreal South, Quebec, on return to Canada — Montreal South, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1945-10-21 to 1945-11-26 — Granted demobilization leave while attached to No. 4 District Depot at Montreal South, Quebec — Montreal South, Quebec / No. 4 District Depot.
1945-11-23 — Final Medical Board proceedings opened at Montreal South, Quebec; post-traumatic left fifth-finger arthritis, calcified right-shoulder ligament and lack of stamina were recorded — Montreal South, Quebec / Medical Board.
1945-11-27 — Medical Board at Montreal South, Quebec, recommended leave conceded and no treatment advised — Montreal South, Quebec / Medical Board.
1945-11-28 — Discharged honourably at Montreal South, Quebec, as Signalman, Royal Canadian Corps of Signals — Montreal South, Quebec / R.C.C.S..
1980-10-31 — Died at Huntingdon County Hospital in Huntingdon, Quebec, aged 78; he was subsequently buried in Athelstan Protestant Cemetery — Huntingdon, Quebec / Athelstan Protestant Cemetery.