Andrew Wyseman was born in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, on August 7, 1879, the eldest child of Robert Wyseman and Agnes (nee Gibb) Wyseman, of 130 South Brock Street, Sarnia. The Wyseman family was originally from Scotland. Andrew’s siblings included Richard (born 1886); Robert (born 1888); William (born 1891); James (born 1898); and Mary (born 1900). In 1911, the Wyseman family was living in Falkirk, Scotland. At that time, Andrew’s occupation was an iron moulder.
Andrew enlisted February 1, 1916 in Edmonton with the 138th Battalion. He was single, occupied as a mail carrier and living in Edmonton at the time of his enlistment. He also recorded that he had seven months of prior military experience with the 101st Militia. Andrew became a member of the Army, Canadian Infantry, Alberta Regiment, 31st Battalion, with the rank of Private. On May 3, 1917, Andrew Wyseman would lose his life while fighting in France in the vicinity of Vimy Ridge.
In June of 1917, Andrew’s mother, Mrs. R. Wyseman in Sarnia, would receive the following letter from one of her son’s comrades, conveying that her son was missing;
Dear Mrs. Wyseman,
I am sorry to inform you that Andy is missing. I don’t know if you have been informed through the War Office or not, but before we went into the line, Andy gave me his address, and I gave him mine, and we promised each other if anything should happen, we would write home after several days. There is a great possibility of him being taken a prisoner, for the day we went over the top, Andy and myself were together and we were surrounded by Germans, but we drove them back and in the excitement, I lost Andy. He is reported missing and I have been waiting this last week thinking I might hear news of him. As I have not heard anything, I thought I would let you know. My address is Pte. Maurice Kew, No. 811605, 31st Canadian Battalion E.F., France. My home address is Kidmore, Reading Berks, England. I joined up with Andy, being in the 138th Band with him, and have been with him right along. Therefore I miss him very much, and I am awfully sorry this has happened. We must hope for the best. If you should hear of him as a prisoner or otherwise, you might let me know and I will certainly do the same, therefore, wishing you the best of luck will close. I am yours very truly.
Andrew Wyseman would later be officially listed as, Previously Reported Missing now for Official purposes presumed to have died on or since 3-5-17. Thirty-seven year old Andrew Wyseman has no known grave. He is
memorialized on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. On the Sarnia cenotaph, his name is inscribed as A. Wiseman.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D, 2G