Notes (Parents: Henry Gardiner and Sommerville Buchanan M. S. Law, married on August 17, 1875.)
In 1901, Alexander M. Gardiner, 10, was shown residing at 33 Portland Place, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Other family members included: Henry Gardiner, 53, widower, Stone Mason; James W. Gardiner, 12; John L. Gardiner, 17, Coach Painter's Apprentice ; Richard L. Gardiner, 15, Coach Painter's Apprentice ; Somerville I. Gardiner, 14 (called "Sim"). (Source: 1901 Census of Scotland; Parish: Hamilton; ED: 15; Page: 36; Line: 18; Roll: CSSCT1901_338; Year: 1901.)
Henry Ellis Gardiner, born 1847, died December 1, 1901 at 33 Portland Street, Hamilton, Scotland.
In 1906, Alexander Gardiner, 15, arrived at Quebec, Canada, in a group of 100 Scottish children en route to Brockville, Ontario, Canada.
On September 30, 1914, at Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada, a marriage was registered between Alexander Miller Gardiner, 23, fireman, born in Hamilton, Scotland, to Henry Ais Gardiner and Somerville Law; and Hilda Charlotte Hallidy, 24, born in Beverly, England, to Charles Hallidy and Martha Sanderson.
Alexander and Hilda Holliday Gardiner had four children: Charles Alexander Gardiner, born 1915; Hilda Millar Gardiner born December 8, 1918 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Jean Martha Gardiner, born December 6, 1920 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; and Alec Richard Gardiner born June 16, 1927.
On April 25, 1916, at Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Alexander Miller Gardiner, 25, enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. He declared that he was born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland; that his next of kin was his wife, Mrs. Hilda Gardiner, who resided at 53 Muriel Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; that his date of birth was February 1, 1891; that he was a fireman for the City Fire Brigade; and that he was married. He was described as 5 foot 8-1/2 inches in height; fair complexion; blue eyes; light brown hair. He was a member of the Presbyterian faith. He had scars consisting of one small angle scar on his left scapula; and one large vaccination scar on his left upper arm.
Alexander lost all contact with his siblings except for occasional correspondence with his brother, Harry, during the first few years. But he became very well known and loved in Ottawa, Canada, where he settled. He was deputy fire chief of the Ottawa Fire Department and fought the fire on Parliament Hill that destroyed the Canadian Parliament Buildings.
Alexander Millar Gardiner died December 18, 1949, in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada. Hilda Charlotte Holliday died November 2, 1945, in Ottawa, Carleton, Ontario, Canada.