Military Challenge - James Mavor

I have taken up Patricia Greber's 11-day challenge of posting about one of my military ancestors every day until November 11th. 


Day 7 of the 11-day Military Challenge

JAMES MAVOR

(1874-1961)

Captain, 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles

James Mavor would have done his militia duty in the Sherbrooke, Eastern Townships area. James moved from Montreal to Victoria, BC and worked for the government in the Land Department. He joined the 50th Gordon Highlanders when it was formed in 1913.

On September 2, 1916 he signed his CEF declaration in Victoria and was assigned to the 143rd Battalion. 

James departed from Halifax on 26 September 2016 and disembarked at Liverpool where he was attached to three different battalions, until he was finally transferred for overseas service with the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles. He landed in France on 10 March 1917.

Lieutenant James Mavor was in "A" company on April 1917 for the attack in Vimy Ridge. 

James was wounded in action twice on the 10th and 14 April 1917.
James was at Passchendaele on 30 October 1917 when his commander was killed, and with a severely injured hand he got his men to safety. For this he earned the Military Cross. 

Military Cross

James was sent to hospital, where his forearm was amputated. When he returned to  Victoria, BC he stayed for a while at the James Bay Inn which was a soldiers settlement at that time. He went back to working for the government. He married but they had no children.

James is my 2nd great uncle.


Note:  There is an old post (2009) on the Ancestry message board by username johnmac44 that he has James Mavor's medal. I tried to contact him both on the board and by message, but he does not respond. His last sign in was seven months ago.  His message is posted here.