Alex Mavor, born in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, was working as a farm servant at Isle-aux-Reaux, Quebec. On Sunday, the 15th of February in 1863 Alex was doing farm chores when his left arm got caught in the thresher.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT
“The day before yesterday, De F.E. Roy was called upon to perform amputation, in the case of a farmer named Mavor, belonging to Isle-aux-Reaux, who had got his left arm severely injured by being entangled in a threshing machine, towards the commencement of last week. It appears that while working about the machine, the sleeve of his coat got caught and his arm was drawn in. So sudden was the occurrence that a moment had elapsed before he became aware of the extent of the injury he had suffered. Amputation was unavoidable, and the operation was skillfully performed by Dr R. We learn that the patient is progressing favorably.”
Alex continued to work and in 1873 he got his own farm in Compton, Quebec which he worked until he sold it about 1912.
Fast forward 54 years later to 1917, Alex’s youngest son James Mavor was a Lieutenant serving in WWI with the 2nd Mounted Rifles. At Vimy Ridge James had his left hand shattered and after still battling thru he eventually had to be hospitalized and have part of his arm amputated.
In May 1918 James was awarded the Military Cross for his courage and endurance at both Passchendaele and at Vimy Ridge.
