Private MacKenzie Allan Rowat

MacKenzie Allan Rowat was born at Athelstan, Quebec, on 28 June 1922, the son of Archie Rowat and Grace Watson. Known in Army records as Allan Rowat, he completed Grade 8 at Athelstan Public School and worked on his father's farm. He spoke English and French, enjoyed swimming, tennis, softball and rugby, and took an interest in electricity. He enlisted at Montreal on 7 June 1940, service number D62203, as a Private in Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal. After training at Valcartier, he sailed from Halifax on 30 June and reached Iceland on 7 July. He moved to Britain that autumn and briefly served as a Trooper with the 5th and 6th Reconnaissance Squadrons before returning to the Fusiliers Mont-Royal in March 1941. By July 1942 he was employed as a light-machine gunner in No. 15 Platoon. Rowat took part in the Dieppe raid on 19 August 1942. Wounded by shrapnel in the forehead and back, he was captured and received treatment from a German medical officer. His prisoner number was 25486. He was held at Stalag VIII B, later known as Stalag 344, and at Stalag II D. During captivity he worked on a farm and in the bush. His family later recalled that he endured a death march in April 1945. Liberated at Bismarck on 3 May 1945, he was reported safe in Britain on 10 May and admitted to No. 4 Canadian General Hospital. He recovered from atypical pneumonia and was discharged from hospital on 26 June before returning to Canada in July. He was honourably discharged as a Private at Montreal South on 5 September 1945, returning to civilian life on demobilization. His recorded medals were the 1939–45 Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp and War Medal 1939–45. At discharge he hoped to become a locomotive fireman and eventually an engineer. He subsequently worked for Canadian National Railway as a locomotive fireman and, by 1971, as a locomotive engineer. He married Ruth Marie Johns at Westmount on 16 September 1950 and later lived in Chateauguay. MacKenzie Allan Rowat died at Chateauguay on 1 August 2002.

1922-06-28 — Born at Athelstan, Quebec, son of Archie (Archibald MacKenzie) Rowat and Grace Watson; later service records and family correspondence support 1922 rather than the 1921 attestation year
1936 — Underwent appendectomy at Montreal General Hospital; Montreal, Quebec.
1937 — Completed Grade 8 at Athelstan Public School; subsequently worked three years as a farm labourer for his father Archie Rowat; Athelstan, Quebec.
1940-06-03 — Enlistment medical examination found fit Category A; height 66.25 inches, weight 132 pounds, expanded chest approximately 33.5 inches and expansion 2.5 inches; Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal.
1940-06-07 — Attested voluntarily as Private, D62203, Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, CASF; labourer, single, Protestant, no previous military service; father Archie Rowat next of kin at Athelstan. Executed service will; Montreal, Quebec.
1940-06-18 — Transferred from regimental depot to active Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal; Valcartier, Quebec.
1940-06-19 — Dental examination recorded treatment requirements; Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal.
1940-06-30 — Embarked for overseas service; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1940-07-07 — Disembarked in Iceland with Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal
1940-08-24 — Two days' pay forfeited; service ledger refers to insubordination involving an NCO; Iceland.
1940-09-17 — Dental extraction and restorative treatment recorded; precise tooth notation uncertain; Iceland.
1940-10-09 to 1940-10-24 — T.A.B. inoculations on 9, 15 and 24 October; vaccination on 15 October; Iceland.
1940-10-26 — Embarked at Reykjavik for Britain; one copy gives 20 October, while duplicate and later theatre record support 26 October; Reykjavik, Iceland.
1940-11-03 — Disembarked in Scotland; Gourock, Scotland, United Kingdom.
1940-11-04 — Reported for duty at Talavera Barracks; Aldershot, England, United Kingdom.
1940-11-08 — Transferred to 5th Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron; subsequently remustered as Trooper in November; Aldershot, England, United Kingdom.
1940-11-19 — Landing leave recorded with reconnaissance unit; United Kingdom.
1941-01-20 to 1941-01-21 — Struck off 5 Reconnaissance Squadron and taken on strength of 6 Reconnaissance Squadron as Trooper; attached to Fusiliers Mont-Royal for rations and quarters from 21 January; United Kingdom.
1941-03-03 — Transferred from 6 Reconnaissance Squadron to Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal as Private; United Kingdom.
1941-05 — Nine days' privilege leave recorded; copies differ between 5 and 14 May effective dates; United Kingdom.
1941-05-14 to 1941-05-16 — Absent without leave for two days three hours; Cove, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom.
1941-05-20 — Awarded 14 days' field punishment and forfeiture of 17 days' pay including three days for absence; separate stoppage of £1-10-10 recorded; United Kingdom.
1941-06-03 — Ceased attachment to a camp, abbreviation uncertain; United Kingdom.
1941-07-22 — Seven days' privilege leave recorded in duplicate ledger; United Kingdom.
1941-09-22 to 1941-09-29 — Privilege leave with warrant; United Kingdom.
1941-10-17 — Further T.A.B.T. inoculation recorded, handwritten date slightly uncertain; United Kingdom.
1941-12-04 — Three days' privilege leave recorded in duplicate ledger; United Kingdom.
1941-12-18 — Seven days' privilege leave with warrant; United Kingdom.
1942-03-20 to 1942-03-27 — Privilege leave without warrant; United Kingdom.
1942-07-16 — Interview recorded mixed-farming experience in Huntingdon district, Grade 8 education, interest in electricity and electrician work, swimming, tennis, softball and rugby; employed as light-machine gunner, No. 15 Platoon; Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, United Kingdom.
1942-07-23 to 1942-07-30 — Seven days' privilege leave; United Kingdom.
1942-08-18 — Embarked from Britain for Operation Jubilee; France.
1942-08-19 — Wounded by shrapnel in forehead/right temple and back during Dieppe raid and taken prisoner; treated in hospital by a German medical officer for four days. Initially reported missing; Dieppe, France.
1942-08-20 — Placed on Fusiliers Mont-Royal X List following missing report; Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal.
1942-08-28 — Official missing-in-action telegram sent to father Archie Rowat at Athelstan; Athelstan, Quebec.
1942-09-25 — POW report placed him at Stalag VIII B, prisoner 25486; later corroboration uses this as camp-entry date; Stalag VIII B, Germany.
1942-09-28 to 1942-10-05 — Red Cross POW notification followed by official letter confirming captivity at Stalag VIII B, prisoner 25486; Stalag VIII B, Germany.
1942-11-21 — Father advised of official POW status, correspondence and personal-parcel arrangements; Athelstan, Quebec.
1943 autumn — Treated for boils for about one month during imprisonment; Stalag VIII B, Germany.
1943-05-03 to 1943-05-04 — Casualty status amended from POW to wounded POW, associated with 19 August 1942; Germany.
1943-06-19 — Daily pay rate of $1.50 became effective while on Fusiliers Mont-Royal X List; Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal.
1943-12-17 — Camp leader reported Stalag VIII B redesignated Stalag 344; family notified in March 1944; Stalag 344, Germany.
1944-02-06 — Wrote to his mother from Stalag II D explaining the camp change; letter postmarked 10 February. Later 27 March entry is a reporting date rather than reliable first arrival; Stalag II D, Germany.
1944-04-11 — Father notified that he had transferred from Stalag 344 to Stalag II D; Athelstan, Quebec.
1944-04-18 — Father's inquiry about location of Stalag II D answered; security restrictions prevented disclosure, parcel instructions supplied; Athelstan, Quebec.
1945-04 — Family later reported a death march in April 1945; contemporary medical history dates onset of pneumonia to April during captivity; Germany.
1945-05-03 — Liberated at Bismarck; later safe-in-UK date of 10 May is distinct from liberation; Bismarck, Germany.
1945-05-07 — Received 200 Reichsmarks advance from a British officer during return journey; subsequent £5 advance also recorded; each entered as Canadian $22.35; Germany.
1945-05-09 — Strength transfer to No. 1 Canadian Reinforcement Depot recorded in one ledger; United Kingdom.
1945-05-10 — Reported safe in Britain and admitted to No. 4 Canadian General Hospital; initial notification diarrhoea, detailed records atypical pneumonia with slow resolution; United Kingdom.
1945-05-12 — Signed repatriation statement through No. 1 Canadian Reception Depot; old paybook destroyed at Dieppe, no captor-account credit or confiscated-effects claim; United Kingdom.
1945-05-25 — Volunteered for Pacific-theatre service while a patient; no evidence of subsequent Pacific deployment; No. 4 Canadian General Hospital, United Kingdom.
1945-05-26 to 1945-06-13 — Cough and sputum investigated; serial chest films showed resolving right-base pneumonia, sputum repeatedly negative for acid-fast bacilli, small stable left-lung opacity; left-shoulder metallic foreign bodies also reported; No. 4 Canadian General Hospital, United Kingdom.
1945-06-08 — Medical board recommended evacuation for atypical pneumonia with delayed resolution; P5, stretcher transport; No. 4 Canadian General Hospital, United Kingdom.
1945-06-15 — Boarded P5 for administrative reasons; No. 4 Canadian General Hospital, United Kingdom.
1945-06-25 — Returned from seven days' leave feeling well; negative chest examination; planned railway employment with eventual ambition to become engineer; No. 4 Canadian General Hospital, United Kingdom.
1945-06-26 — Discharged from hospital to No. 1 Canadian Repatriation Depot; detailed discharge notification controls earlier ledger transfer entry of 23 May; United Kingdom.
1945-07-16 to 1945-07-17 — Struck off Canadian Army Overseas on 16 July; taken on Canadian strength 17 July through No. 4 District Depot, later reporting on 23 July; Canada.
1945-07-24 to 1945-08-22 — Leave and ration allowance after return to Canada; Athelstan, Quebec.
1945-08-23 — Absence without leave from 0900 recorded in entry dated 4 September; no resulting court-martial discharge established; No. 4 District Depot.
1945-09-04 — Discharge medical board found no disability or treatment required; healed shrapnel injury without disability, pneumonia recovered, PULHEMS all ones; dental requirements recorded; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-09-05 — Honourably discharged as Private at No. 4 District Depot to civil life on demobilization, CARO 1029(5)(c)(i); badge 217926 acknowledged; $100 clothing allowance and 30 days' pay. Counselling recommended locomotive-fireman training and referral to Valleyfield placement officer; Montreal South, Quebec.
1945-10-19 — War-service gratuity $1120.01 for 1898 qualifying days, including 1823 overseas days; 14 monthly instalments of $80 recorded. Gross service 1917 days less 19 nonqualifying days; Athelstan, Quebec.
1945-11-07 — Service will dated 7 June 1940 returned after release; remained valid unless revoked; Athelstan, Quebec.
1946-04-23 — Authorized civilian dental care with Dr. B. Brock, two fillings and prophylaxis; treatment certificate records May visits without year; Westmount, Quebec.
1946-06-15 — Former-POW physical examination requested under tuberculosis screening programme; no tuberculosis diagnosis established; Montreal, Quebec.
1946-09-20 — Examined at St. Annes Hospital for persistent cough; chest examination and X-ray normal; employed as locomotive fireman; St. Annes Hospital, Quebec.
1947-05-20 — Working as CNR locomotive fireman, living at 1065 Greene Avenue; outpatient examination for rectal itching, otherwise clinically well; Montreal, Quebec.
1947-07-09 — Surgical consultation identified fissure in ano with possible haemorrhoids; admission recommended, fit for work; Queen Mary Veterans Hospital, Montreal, Quebec.
1947-07-25 — Applied for hospital treatment; CNR locomotive fireman for 19 months, wages $200 with period unspecified; reported inability to pay treatment costs; Montreal, Quebec.
1947-08-01 to 1947-09-09 — Admitted to Queen Mary Veterans Hospital; anal fissures treated surgically during admission, submucous resection on 25 August and tonsillectomy on 2 September; recovery uneventful, fit to work from 15 September; Montreal, Quebec.
1948-10-22 — Medal verification recorded 1939–45 Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp and War Medal 1939–45; Canada.
1950-06-14 — Re-establishment credit $147.98 for furniture; living at 1208 Rolland Avenue; Verdun, Quebec.
1950-09-16 — Married Ruth Marie Johns at Church of the Ascension of Our Lord, witnessed by Watson Rowat and Pearl Laren (Mrs. Adam Jack); Westmount, Quebec.
1950-10-10 — Re-establishment credit $374.66 for furniture; living at 15 Brooke Avenue; Westmount, Quebec.
1951-02-06 to 1951-03-02 — Furniture-credit payments $379.85 and $21.04 and final balance $4.72; address 980 Stephen Street; Verdun, Quebec.
1954-04-15 — POW maltreatment corroboration recorded Stalag VIII B, Stalag II D and liberation on 3 May 1945; living at 978 Stephen Avenue; Verdun, Quebec.
1954-09-15 — POW maltreatment award $423, cheque mailed approximately this date; Canada.
1958-12-19 — Additional POW maltreatment award $211.50 cheque mailed; Canada.
1959-07-06 to 1959-07-07 — Service certified for Veterans' Land Act purposes; Canada.
1965-08-02 — Birth of son David A. Rowat, later listed as dependent child
1971-10-25 to 1971-11-04 — Applied for fissure-in-ano pension; examination found no current anorectal disability; married with two dependent children, employed as CN locomotive engineer at 431 Dunver Road; Chateauguay, Quebec.
1973-03-15 — Canadian Pension Commission accepted fissure in ano as incurred during Active Force service, effective 26 October 1971, assessed nil disability; advised on 31 May; Canada.
1976-04-21 — Applied for former-POW compensation, spouse Ruth Marie and son David listed; compensation instructions rate 20% effective 1 April 1976; Montreal, Quebec.
1980-10-31 — Father Archie M. Rowat died; obituary identified Allan living at Chateauguay and listed surviving siblings; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1990-08-06 — Authorized sister Katherine Rowat Bouthillier to obtain service records; address 431 Dunver, Chateauguay; Chateauguay, Quebec.
2002-08-01 — Died at Chateauguay, Quebec, as recorded in existing CWVMP profile