1066184 L/Cpl. Angus Murdock Torrie was born on January 7th, 1898, in the township of Holland, Grey County, Ontario, Canada, the son of Duncan Torrie and Sarah nee McLeod.
The 1901, 1911 and 1921 Ontario Census shows him with his parents and siblings on the home farm.
On February 1st, 1917, Angus completed his WW1 Attestation Papers in Markdale, Ontario, being attested into the 248th Battalion. He was listed as a farmer, not married, had never served in any Military force, understood the nature and terms of his engagement and was willing to be attested to serve in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force.
His mother, Sarah Torrie, was listed as next-of-kin and her address as being in Markdale, Ontario.
Angus was 5 feet 9 inches in height, of dark completion, brown eyes and black hair, and was recorded as a Baptist.
80 men of the 248th Battalion were transferred to the 4th CMR in November 1917, Angus being amongst them.
L/Cpl. Charles Bertram Matthison, from Downie Township, Perth County, Ontario, mentioned Angus in his war diaries:
March 27 & 28, 1918 - camp out at night to Neuville St. Vaast, bombardment all night, standing to, made our home, some night, rained, living with McIntosh, Torrie and Butler, made more of our house, having great time cleaning up.
April 24th, 1918 - moved to support in evening, living in flank hole with Torrie, seem to be letting things slide in platoon, dull day, doing our own cooking.
Angus survived the war, apparently unscathed, and was struck off strength on March 30th, 1919.
Following the war, Angus can be found crossing the border from Canada to Detroit, Michigan, USA, on February 15th, 1927. The 1930 USA Census shows him as single, living in Detroit, occupation Engineer in a Children's hospital. The 1940 USA Census shows him living in Detroit, age 42, occupation Stationery Engineer. He is married to Mary, who is 31 years old.
Angus passed away on May 30th, 1989, in Livonia, Wayne County, Michigan.
The above details and photograph credit are with thanks to Lynn Matthison.