Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Ian McFadyen was born in Edinburgh on 12 October 1887.  He was the son of Isobella McFadyen of Dalblair Cottage, Dalblair Road, Ayr, Scotland.

Ian emigrated to Canada in May 1911, on board the ship “Furnessia”.  He was bound for Winnipeg, Manitoba where he was staying with a friend and his occupation was listed as clerk.  On the 1911 Canadian Census, he was listed as living ‘as a roomer’ in Kootenay, British Columbia.

He had served for four years with the Queens Rifle Brigade (a territorial force) whilst employed as a policeman. On 14 March 1916, he enlisted with the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in Montreal  and was posted to the Canadian Siege Artillery. His mother, Isabella was listed as his next of kin who was living at 17 York Street, Edinburgh.

Sergeant Mcfadyen was serving with the Canadian Siege Artillery and stationed at Stowlangtoft, Suffolk when he passed through Peterborough East Station and signed the visitors’ book on 3 December 1917.  He wrote

“A Soldier’s thanks let him give in rhyme
Who, awaiting his train, has whiled his time,
In the Soldiers’ Rest
Which ranks one of the best
With environment dorned by two ladies fair
Which to Soldier boys, these days, seems most rare
So thanks once more to those ladies dear
Who’ve supplied all our needs –- excepting beer!”

He appears to have been travelling with another Canadian soldier, Sgt Wicks from the same regiment.  Sergeant McFadyen was awarded the Military Medal on 13 March 1918.

We have been unable to trace any  further information on this soldier.  Do you recognise any of the information?  Please get in touch if you can tell us more.