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Victory Medal
Biography
Private Alexander John MacGillivray was born August 10, 1886 in St. Andrews, Antigonish County. He was the son of John MacGillivray and Sarah Campbell. Prior to enlistment, he worked as a farmer in St. Andrews.
MacGillivray enlisted in the 1st Nova Scotia Depot Battalion in Halifax on April 15, 1918. Shortly after enlistment, MacGillivray was hospitalized for bronchitis at the Highland View Hospital in Amherst, Cumberland County from April 26, 1918 to May 10 1918. Following recovery, he sailed from Halifax to England on the S.S. Waimana and arrived in England July 7, 1918. He was transferred to the 17th Reserve Battalion upon arrival and was sent to the Canadian Expeditionary Force base in Bramshott, Hampshire. MacGillivray was then transfered to the Royal Canadian Regiment on October 30, 1918. He served on the field in France with this unit until February 6, 1919 when he returned to England, then sailed to Canada. He was discharged due to dembolization March 15, 1919 in Halifax.
Following the war, MacGillivray was listed as a farmer in the 1921 Census of Canada in Lower South River and was living with his brother Allan and sister Anne. By the 1931 census, he was listed as a farmer in St. Andrews and was living with his brothers Allan and Angus. MacGillivray continued to farm until his retirement and resided in St. Andrews for the rest of his life. MacGillivray died March 23, 1962 in St. Andrews, Antigonish County. He is buried in South River Cemetery, Antigonish County.
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