Duncan Graham McSweyn
Duncan Graham McSweyn was born 26 March 1877 in Lindsay ON. His sister, Anne McSweyn of Lindsay ON, as well as his wife Margaret McSweyn of West Vancouver BC, are listed as his next of kin. He also had a sister, Virgie, who was a surgical nurse that went to France in late 1915 with the Harvard University Unit Hospital. Virgie was able to see her brother in the hospital before he was sent home. Duncan’s mother is noted as living in the Boston area at the time of his release from service upon arriving back in Canada.
After serving in the militia with the 45th Victoria Regiment, Duncan enlisted on 23 September 1914 in Valcartier with the 16th Battalion. After being seriously wounded in the fighting at Langemarck, Duncan lost the sight in one of his eyes, which was described by doctors in his war record:
“Noted that while at Ypres doing sentry duty in the trenches, a shell exploded near him causing a partial stunning and temporary loss of vision in both eyes lasting perhaps 5 mins. Vision in his left eye gradually diminished until quite gone in about 6 weeks. Invalided to England and then discharged with a medical release 5 Nov 1915.”
After being invalided home in late 1915, Duncan McSweyn died 18 July 1919 of pernicious anemia, unrelated to his service, and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver BC. He was 42 years old.
