Captain Oliver A. Mowat, Military Cross, Siberian Expeditionary Force Oliver Alexander Mowat served during the Great War and was one of four sons of Max and Lilian Mowat of Campbellton. Born in 1893, he enlisted in 1914 and was commissioned a lieutenant in 24th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery. Within the year he was in action in France. He was wounded in July 1916 and again in August 1917. With his second wound he returned to Campbellton to recuperate. Although Mowat could have remained in Canada in some military capacity, he was determined to return to action. In March 1918 he was back in England attached to the 68th Battery, 16th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. The 68th Battery became a component of the Siberian Expeditionary Force and by September 1918 Captain Mowat was in Northern Russia helping to protect the vital port of Archangel and to fight the Bolsheviks. He won a Military Cross for his “conspicuous gallantry” at an action at Kodema on 15 December 1918. On 19 January 1919 Mowat and his battery were in support of American and White Russian forces at Shenkursk, when they were attacked by a strong force of Bolsheviks. Mowat was mortally wounded by shell fire. Prior to their evacuation from Siberia, members of his battery disinterred Mowat’s body, placed it in a coffin, and had it shipped back to England as part of the battery baggage. There the body was collected by his father, properly preserved by an undertaker, placed in a sealed coffin, and shipped back to Campbelltown. Captain Oliver Mowat was buried with military honours in the Campbellton Rural Cemetery. His grave marker commemorates both him and his older brother ....... Second Lieutenant Morden Maxwell Mowat, who was shot down and killed by the German flying ace Max Immelman on 16 May 1916, while serving with the 11th Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. Morden Mowat was 25 years of age and is buried at Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France. In memory of Captain OLIVER ALEXANDER MOWAT who died on January 27, 1919 Age: 25 Force: Army Unit: Canadian Field Artillery Division: 16th Brigade Honours and Awards: Military Cross Date of Birth: August 8, 1893 New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada Date of Enlistment: January 13, 1915 Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada Son of Max M. and Lillian A. Mowat, of Campbellton, NB. His grave marker bears the inscription "Died in Russia". Cemetery CAMPBELLTON RURAL CEMETERY New Brunswick,Canada Grave Reference: L. 313. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/...rval=20&&PHPSESSID=pd461vcckdi2t0cfi1uvh49r73 http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=collections/virtualmem/photos&casualty=2755675 In Memory of Second Lieutenant MORDEN MAXWELL MOWAT 11th Sqdn., Royal Flying Corps who died age 25 on 16 May 1916 Son of Maxwell M. and Lillian A. Mowat, of Campbellton, New Brunswick. Remembered with honour CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ
Hi There I would like to clarify the above posting. Oliver's unit made a coffin from biscuit tins that were soldered together. My Grandfather (his brother) met him in England and had an undertaker fashion a coffin for Oliver's return to Canada. My Great Grandfather and Oliver's father Maxwell was the one that met his body in Campbelltown. There is a letter written by my grandfather stating this on my website as well. There were a total of 5 brothers in the family. The 3 older brothers served, Oliver, Morden and Godfrey. The 2 younger enlisted but the war had ended and they never saw battle. http://carr6.shawwebspace.ca/
