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Blantyre Folk

1941

Alexander McMillan McGrouther

World War 2

Alexander McMillan McGrouther, a native of Blantyre, now in the Royal Canadian Air Force, was the sole survivor of an air crash on the almost inaccessible slopes of Mount McDougall 50 miles from Calgary, it has been revealed. His two other companions were Canadians.

McGrouther in addition to having a broken leg and nose, was without food for 48 hours. He was able to crawl to a mountain stream 50 yards away after putting on roughly fashioned splints on his leg. His rescuers said they were none too soon as a large bear was prowling in the vicinity.

After negotiating the steep mountain, the rescue party had to take McGrouther 12 miles by saddle horse and then go another 19 miles by car to Bragg Creek to summon further aid.

The injured man’s father, Mr William McGrouther, is a brother-in-law of Mrs Harper, Blantyre and formerly agent of the Commercial Bank, Blantyre . With his wife and family he went to Canada about 1928. The late Mr Alexander McMillan, was the airman’s grandfather.

Ref. Hamilton Advertiser.  11/10/1941. Page 6. 

Wilma Bolton. 2005.

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