Robert John Mutrie b. 2 Apr 1883 Eramosa Township, Wellington County, Ontario d. 5 Apr 1916

1883 - 1916 (33 years)

Name	Robert John Mutrie
Birth	2 Apr 1883	Eramosa Township, Wellington County, Ontario
Gender	Male
Death	5 Apr 1916
Burial	Poperinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium
Person ID	I20429	All
Last Modified	24 Sep 2010

Father	John Mutrie, b. Abt 1846, Eramosa Township, Wellington County, Ontario
Mother	Margaret Dow, b. Abt 1852, Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario d. 02 Aug 1894, Eramosa Township, Wellington County, Ontario (Age ~ 42 years)
Marriage	25 Mar 1873	Nichol Township, Wellington County, Ontario
Family ID	F4020	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Alice Elizabeth Tolton, b. Abt 1882, Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario

Marriage 06 Nov 1907 Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario

Children

1. R. Randolf Mutrie

Family ID F5716 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 11 Aug 2008

Event Map

Marriage - 06 Nov 1907 - Guelph, Wellington County, Ontario

= Link to Google Earth

Pin Legend : Address : Location : City/Town : County/Shire : State/Province : Country : Not Set

Histories

Rockwood War Memorial
This war memorial sits at the corner of Main Street and Guelph Street in Rockwood, Ontario to commemorate the services and sacrifices of our soldiers during World War 1, World War 2 and the Korean War.

Notes

Major Robert John Mutrie (1882 - 1916)

Robert John Mutrie was born on April 2, 1883 in Eramosa Township to Col. John and Margaret (Dow) Mutrie. His father John Mutrie was well known in Eramosa Township where he had lived his entire life. The Mutrie ancestors were early settlers in Wellington County. Robert's great-grandparents, John and Janet (Wilson) Mutrie, settled on 100 acres of land on concession 8 of Nichol Township. John Mutrie lived here until his death in 1870. His wife, Janet, predeceased him by four years.

Great-grandfather John Mutrie was born in the Hawick District of Lanark, Scotland about 1784. Prior to his marriage, he enlisted in the British Navy, and served under Lord Nelson ten years, and was on the battleship with Lord Nelson at Trafalgar. It was in this battle that he was wounded and returned home.

Robert's grandfather, William, was born in Scotland on March 17, 1817. William was raised on concession 8 of Nichol Township. He married Jane Beattie, daughter of Scottish immigrant William Beattie (1784 - 1861) and Elizabeth McDonald. At the age of 26, William purchased 200 acres, lot 23 , con. 4, and lot 23, con. 3, Eramosa Township and remained here until his death. He was a broadminded man, and while he never held municipal office, he was a staunch Liberal, and took a active interest in the political questions of the day, and also found time to devote to religious, educational and other matters, for the betterment of the community. He was on the Board of Managers of the Presbyterian church for years; a Director of the Eramosa Agricultural Society, and its President for a term of years.

Robert's father, Col. John Mutrie, was born in Eramosa Township. He joined the militia in 1866, served in the Fenian raids and rose through the ranks to attain command of the local regiment. During WW1, he was the chief recruiting officer in the area. He long served with the 30th Wellington Rifles. From 1878 to 1880, John Mutrie was an Eramosa Councillor, Deputy Reeve from 1881 to 1883, Eramosa Reeve from 1884 to 1892, Warden of Wellington County from 1890 to 1891and served for two terms as Liberal Member of the Ontario Legislature. In later years, John Mutrie was postmaster at Rockwood and Township Treasurer. He was an ardent supporter of baseball, a tradition in Rockwood.

Standing at 5'7 1/2 ", Major Mutrie was of average height. He had brown hair, brown eyes and a dark complexion. Like his father, Robert was also a member of the 30th Wellington Rifles. He participated for five years prior to signing up for overseas duty in 1914 at the age of 32.

He married Alice Tolton. At the time of his death, his young family was residing at 44 Bellevue Place in Guelph, Ontario. One of his sons, Eric (1912-2003), became a well known physician in Guelph.

Major Robert J. Mutrie was a member of the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles (British Columbia Regiment). He died on April 5, 1916 at age 33 years and is buried at Poperinghe New Military Cemetery in Belgium. Notice of his death is printed in the April 7th edition of the Toronto Star.

The war diary entry of April 5, 1916 reads:

2am - Battalion marched back to crossing near YPRES and entrained to VLAMERTINGHE. Major Mutrie and Capt Temple killed by shell on road near crossing YPRES. Grenade Officer and 3 ORs wounded at same place.
5am - Battalion detrained at VLAMERTINGHE and marched to Camp D. Map location G24C. Rest Billets.

View photo of Major Mutrie.

Fergus News-Record Thursday April 13, 1916

MAJOR ROBERT MUTRIE KILLED IN ACTION

Guelph, April 6. -- Mrs. Major Mutrie, received word this morning that her husband, Major Mutrie, second in command of the Second Canadian Mounted Rifles, had been killed in action. Major Mutrie enlisted at Vernon, B.C., where he had resided for some years. His wife, formerly Miss Alice Tolton of Guelph, came here to stay with her parents while her husband was at the front. He also leaves four small children, the oldest only eight years of age. He is a son of Col. Mutrie of Rockwood.

The late Major Mutrie (Bobbie) was a well-known High School student in Fergus some years ago. He was a grandson of the late Mr. Wm. Dow, and cousin of Mr. J. A. Wilson, lawyer, of town.