John Alexander Macrae

RankSecond Lieutenant J A MacRae - High School Photo
MedalsBritish War Medal, Victory Medal
RegimentBlack Watch 11th Battalion attached 8th Battalion
Military Service

1914 Enlisted in the Stock Exchange Company of the 5th Battalion Queens Own Cameron Highlanders.
1915 Gazetted Second Lieutenant in 11th Black Watch in April. This battalion, formed in October 1914, remained in Britain for the duration of the war and was designated a ‘Reserve’ battalion. This fits with the information that Macrae was employed as an instructor in musketry and sniping.
From 16th June 1916 Macrae was serving in France and I suspect that it may have been at that point that he was attached to the 8th Battalion part of 26th Brigade (Highland), 9th (Scottish) Division. At the time of Macrae’s death the battalions of this brigade were heavily involved in the Battle of Bazentin Ridge and the efforts to capture and hold Longueval and Delville Wood

Born

c1889

Death18th July 1916
Circumstances of Death

Killed in action.
Macrae died during the fighting of 14th – 18th July. His school obituary records that the trenches where the battalion was stationed were being shelled by the Germans in preparation for a counter attack. 2 5.9 shells landed causing many casualties one of whom was Macrae.

Age27
BurialThiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 10 A.
CWGC Information

None

Parents

John C Macrae (c1863-1930) & Catherine Macmillan (c1862-1939)

Father's Occupation

Wine & Spirit Merchant

Siblings

Donald (c1893-), William F (c1894-), Catherine F (c1897-)

Spouse

Unmarried

Education

High School of Glasgow

Occupation

Employed by Boyd & Dunn, Stockbrokers, St Vincent Street, Glasgow

1891 Census

Wilton Gardens, Glasgow

1901 Census

19 Regent Park Square, Kinning Park, Glasgow

Home Address

19 Regent Park Square, Kinning Park, Glasgow

Glasgow NecropolisCompartment Primus Lair 137
Other Memorials

Scottish National War Memorial

Other Information

In 1905 Macrae sailed from Liverpool on SS Oravia to Buenos Aires, Argentina to visit family.

Acknowledgements and Sources

Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below.  The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to the High School of Glasgow, Ancestry, and Find my past.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Family Search

Scotlands People

The Long, Long Trail

The Scottish War Memorials Project

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Credits

Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.

 
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