1912 - Photograph of Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel John Ainslie Finlayson, 1st Regiment Grenadier Guards of Canada Quartermaster and 1st. Bn. Prince of Wales Regiment Fusiliers (1890-1908)

Photograph

Musée Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum

Name/Title

Description

Circa 1912 - Photo portrait of Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel John Ainslee Finlayson - Quartermaster of the 1st Regiment, Grenadier Guards of Canada and original Officer with the 1st Prince of Wales Regiment. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with the 1st Prince of Wales Regiment Fusiliers form 1903-1908. ABOUT THE OFFICER: Lt.- Colonel J. A. Finlayson. Lieutenant Colonel John Ainslie Finlayson was born in 1851 in the Scotch Settlement areas of Williamstown, Seigniory of Beauharnois, now known as Sainte-Clotilde, Quebec. He moved with his brother (who worked as an executive with Five Roses / Olgyvie Flower Mills – owned by The Meighen Family) to Montreal in the late 1870’s and joined the Montreal Brigade Garrison Artillery. He served as a 2nd Lieutenant during the 1885 Northwest Rebellion, and is one of two CGG Officers (LCol James Cooper the other) to have remained with the regiment up to WWI. He was appointed to 1st Prince of Wales Regiment in June, 1890, as Lieutenant and Captain in 1893. He was promoted to Major, with 1st Prince of Wales Regiment Fusiliers, on 14th July, 1899 and served as The Regiment’s Lieutenant- Colonel Commanding (1st PWRF) from 1903-1908. He transferred to R.O. on 29th April, 1908 but was reactivated as Honourary Lieut.-Col. on 20 February 1912. He was one of CGG’s founding Senior Officers joining CGG as the regiment’s Quarter Master on organization on the 16th of May 1912 and eventually retired on 5th May 1915. He passed away in Westmount, and is buried in Mount Royal cemetery.

Created By

Bertille L. Hurel

Create Date

August 18, 2022

Updated By

Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.

Update Date

July 1, 2025