Sutherland, Donald Matheson

Donald Matheson Sutherland was born in Norwich, Ontario on December 3, 1879, the son of Dr. Fitzgerald and Jean (nee Matheson) Sutherland.  He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1903 as a physician and practised in Woodstock and Princeton.  A distinguished serviceman, he was a Major in the Brantford Calvary Unit Grey’s Horse. When WW 1 broke out he had enlisted four days before and became Commander of "A" Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Division Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He was wounded at Pilkern Ridge in the second battle of Ypres and sent home to convalesce. Upon his return to the front in France he commanded the 52nd Manitoba Regiment and the 74th Battalion. He was wounded again, at Courcelette on the Somme, and sent home to Canada. But again he returned to active duty, to command the 5th Division Infantry Brigade at Witley. He was awarded the Distin­guished Service Me­dal, but for the rest of his life he was troubled by his war injuries. After the war he practised medicine in Princeton and Woodstock, but gradually moved from the medical and military arena to the world of federal politics. In 1925 Dr. Sutherland took his seat in the House Of Commons.  In 1926 he was defeated but regained his seat in 1930 and joined the Cabinet of R.B. Bennett as Minister of National Defence.  When that Government was defeated in 1935 he returned to his practice in Woodstock.  It was at this time that Dr. Sutherland moved to 155 Argyle St. in Embro to the family home that had been built by his Grandfather Donald Matheson in 1854.  Dr. D.M. Sutherland, who never married, lived his remaining years here and died in 1970 at the age of 90.