Kelso Carmichael Cairns was born in 1882 near King City, Ontario. During his childhood, he also lived in Port Elgin and Huntsville. According to our mother, her father was admitted to medical school but first played bridge on the ships on the great lakes to earn money for medical school. He graduated in 1905 and was known as a good athlete and a lacrosse champion. In 1908 he married Edith May Heath, a woman he met in Huntsville. They moved to Lumsden, Saskatchewan, where his aunt Flora Wilkie lived and then to Swift Current. Their first child Donald was born in 1910 but died in 1912 as a toddler. His second child Jean Cairns was born in 1917.
He enlisted in the army in 1916 during the First World War and was attached to the 209th Overseas Battalion as the head physician with the rank of captain. While overseas, he contracted influenza and returned to Canada for convalescence. For 2 years, he remained in Quebec for medical treatment until he was discharged from the army. The family returned to Swift Current. Given the serious nature of his illness, it is a strong possibility that Kelso had an early case of the Spanish flu before it was declared a pandemic. He died of pneumonia in 1934 at age 51. His widow was awarded the Memorial (Silver) Cross as he died of injuries related to his time at war.He was known as a prominent physician and a constant student of his profession, as well as an active member in organizations for the benefit of the community. Our mother was just 17 when he died, and she cherished his memory for her whole life.
