Major Duncan Michael

1. Major (Army).
2. Major, 43rd Battalion, Infantry (Army).

Duncan was the son of Donald and Abigail Michael of Beauly, Inverness-shire, Scotland. Donald and Abigail (née Campbell) were married in March 1884 on the Isle of Bute in western Scotland. They had at least nine children, eight sons and one daughter. Duncan was the oldest and he was born 12 March 1885 at 84 Cathcart Street in Glasgow. In 1889 or 1890 the family moved north to the small village of Beauly, near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. In census records Duncan's father was listed as an ironmonger, crofter and general merchant.

In the 1901 census of Scotland Duncan was 16 years old and employed as an Apprentice Solicitor. He later said he served three years with the Lovat Scouts, a British army unit, which must have been between 1901 and 1905. He immigrated to Canada in August 1905, arriving on the Buenos Ayrean, a clerk, age 20, going to Winnipeg. His brother Alexander came to Canada in 1906. Duncan made a trip back to the UK in 1909, listing his occupation as manager. When he returned to Canada in August 1909 his brother Donald came too, but a week later and on a different ship. Donald said he was going to his two brothers in Winnipeg. Another brother Thomas immigrated to Canada in March 1914.

Duncan is listed in Winnipeg city directories from 1909 to 1915, first as a bookkeeper and assistant manager at Smart Bag Co, then as manager of Sunset Mfg. Company. A Roll of Honour published in the Quebec Chronicle after the war showed him as a western employee of the Lake of the Woods Milling Company.

Duncan served for almost three years with the 34th Fort Garry Horse, a mounted militia unit organized in Winnipeg in January 1913. He is listed on their Nominal Roll (Pre-World War One) as a lieutenant. There was a lot of interest in militia units at the time, especially among white-collar workers such as bank and office clerks. In September 1915, a year after the war started, Duncan enlisted with the 79th Battalion in Brandon, Manitoba.

When Duncan signed his Officer's Declaration Paper in April 1916 his address was 233 Lenore Street in Winnipeg. In the 1916 census he was listed as a roomer at 233 Lenore, employed as a manager and with an "O" by his name indicating he was serving overseas. Also rooming at 233 Lenore was his brother A.C. Michael who was the acting manager at Sunset Mfg. Company.

Duncan embarked from Halifax with the 79th Battalion on 24 April 1916 on the SS Lapland. He is listed on the Nominal Roll as a Major. There were over 1100 officers and men of the 79th on the Lapland and in England they were all transferred to other battalions. Duncan was with the 43rd Battalion when he died in France in October 1916, at the Battle of the Somme.

From the War Diary of the 43rd Battalion, 8 October 1916, in Front Line. "Battalion assaulted Regina trench ... with object of proceeding beyond and consolidating a line over crest of HILL 130. ...Thick wire was encountered in front of Regina trench and Bn was forced to retire on original jumping off line. ... Missing: Major D. Michael." Casualties on this day were Officers - 2 killed, 2 wounded, 4 missing; Other Ranks - 8 killed, 224 wounded, 120 missing.

From the Circumstances of Death record for Duncan: Previously reported missing, now Killed in Action. He was killed while taking part in an attack made by his battalion on Regina Trench, Courcelette. No further information as to the actual circumstances under which he met his death is available. Grave: About 3/4 miles North of Courcelette, 5 3/4 miles North East of Albert, France.

From the CEF Commonwealth War Graves register for Duncan: Grave could not be found on research in above area. A Memorial Cross upon which this officer's name appears, has been erected in Adanac Military Cemetery in France.

Duncan is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial in France and on the Lake of the Woods Milling Company plaque in Keewatin, Ontario. The plaque honours staff and citizens who gave their lives in the Great War.

Duncan's brother Thomas served with the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles and he was missing and presumed killed on 5 June 1916 in Belgium. Their brother Donald enlisted and survived the war. A third brother apparently served in Gallipoli and was invalided home before Duncan died.