Tuesday 20 November 2018

1818 typhus outbreak continues in Aberdeen

The COMMITTEE for the Prevention of CONTAGIOUS FEVER are sorry to find that the Fever is still on the INCREASE; but having, through the kind interference of the Lord Lieutenant of the County, procured the use of the Barrack Hospital, in addition to the House of Recovery already fitted up, they trust, soon, to be able to give a more favourable Report.  The expence attending the support of so many indigent people IS SO GREAT, that the Inhabitants, who have not already subscribed, must, unavoidably, soon be waited upon.  In the meantime, the Committee earnestly solicit such BENEVOLENT FAMILIES as can spare Old Clothes, Blankets or Carpets, that they will send in the same, with as little delay as possible, to the House of Recovery, Gallowgate-head.

COUNCIL CHAMBER.
Tuesday Evening, 15th Dec. 1818.

Published in the Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday 16th December 1818.

John Farquharson, casualty of WW1

Although the Armistice was signed on 11th November 1918, the conflict continued to claim lives.  Today we remember John Farquharson, Cpl 227017, Canadian Mounted Rifles, who died of wounds on 20th November 1918, aged 41 years.  Born 3rd October 1877 at South High Street, Portsoy, John married Isabella Chalmers (also of Portsoy) in St Pancras, London in 1909. They went on to make their home in Hamilton,Ontario,Canada.

John enlisted, aged 38, and served with the Canadian Mounted Rifles.

He sailed from Halifax, N.S. on the RMS Olympic in July 1916, sister ship of the Titanic. Those service personnel taking their ”Last Steps” on Canadian soil are remembered today on similar memorials on the quay at Halifax, N.S. and at Passchendaele in Flanders. 



John died of influenza on the 20.11.1918 at the Military Hospital in Farnham and was buried at Bordon Military Cemetery in Hampshire.  John is remembered on Portsoy War Memorial and also on the family grave stone in Portsoy.  


Thanks to Susan Strang for supplying family details.