Force: Canadian Army
George Duncan was born on April 4, 1907 in Aberdeen, Scotland. As a young man, he worked in a Law Office before deciding to come to Canada. Leaving Scotland on May 31, 1928 with his brother, James, they boarded the S. S. Dorir, and after arriving in Montreal, they took the train and headed to Clairmont AB. Their uncle Donald McPherson had a homestead there since 1910, and their older brother was also there. They arrived on June 15th and were welcomed with mud and rain. After working for farmers in the area, James and George bought land near Sexsmith, on Kleskun Lake: E ½ – 19-73-4-w6 in fall of 1929 to homestead. Because they lost all their hay crop in a fire in 1931, they worked at a lumber mill for a few years. Then they started mixed farming with cattle. In 1939, James joined the army, leaving the farming to George. (Their brother Bill also served in WW II in BC.) In 1942 George also joined the army, and served overseas until he was discharged in 1946. For a short time, he lived in BC, but then returned to his farm, and he married Edna Blanes from Teepee Creek. The couple had 6 children: Donna, Georgina, Irene, Bill, Barbara, and Douglas. George was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion in the Sexsmith Branch for many years. Since he developed some health problems, the family moved to Grande Prairie in 1966. George died on June 6, 1984 in Grande Prairie at age 77.
Source: Wagon Trails Grown Over pp. 169 – 171 (photos), p. 1149 – Name in Roll of Honour, p. 1155 photo.
La Glace – Yesterday and Today p. 315 (name only)
Smoky River to Grande Prairie pp. 291 – 292
Grande Prairie Northern Tribune: August 14, 1947 p. 5 c. 6 (marries)
AGS Obituary Index; Grande Prairie Herald Tribune June 7, 1984 – Obituary