Dugald McCorkindale Lorimer was born in the Springburn area of Glasgow, Scotland at 1:45 am on April 5, 1900 to Thomas Lorimer and Isabella McLachlan Lorimer.

There were six children in the Lorimer family – three girls and three boys. At the time of the 1901 census, Francis, Thomas, Isabella and Dugald were living with their parents at 45 Centre Street in Glasgow. John and Mabel were born a few years later. Census records from 1911 are not publically available, but can be viewed for a fee on the ScotlandsPeople website.

In 1916, Dugald’s older brother Thomas was stationed in France as part of the 1st Battalion of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. He was killed on 15 August at the age of 20 during the Battle of the Somme. The family was living at 21 Dale Street, Glasgow at the time of the tragedy.

On 15 August 1924, Dugald boarded the SS Athenia to start a new life in Canada. He held a ticket for a 3rd class cabin on the ship and carried £3 in his pocket. On the Ocean Arrivals form, it states that Dugald had previously been employed as a fireman and intended to work on the farm of his sister Frances’ husband Sherman Smith in Ancaster, Ontario. Dugald arrived in Quebec on 24 August 1924 after a nine day journey. His parents arrived in Canada two years later on the 20th of June with the two youngest Lorimer children.

After settling in Canada, Dugald met Norah Alice Fennell of Brant, Ontario, and the couple married on 1 July 1927. At the time of their marriage, Dugald was employed as a laborer and Norah as a stenographer. They had three children together: two sons and a daughter. By 1958, Dugald was living in the Parkdale area of Toronto and working as a Stone Mason, the same career his father had pursued.