Alex MacRae

Alexander (Alex) who was killed in the first Great War [1914-1918], and is buried in France. He joined the 78th Canadian Infantry Battalion “Winnipeg Grenadiers”.

The following is from the Battalion Headquarters in France:

“Corporal Alex Macrae was wounded by an enemy shell on the morning of the 2nd of September 1918, and he passed away about six o’clock on the afternoon of the 4th two days later, at the 20th General Hospital at Camiers. He is buried in a Military Cemetery at Camiers. Alex was undoubtedly one of the bravest boys that even was in the Battalion, and he took a very prominent part in all the engagements the Battalion took part in since coming to France, including the SOMME offensive October 1916, the AMIENS Battle August 1918 and the Battle of ARRAS on the 2nd of September where he received his fatal wounds.

Apart from the above engagements he did consistent good work during the long periods of holding the line, and it was during one of these periods that he performed the act of gallantry that won him the MILITARY MEDAL. The following is a narrative of the act as it was submitted with the recommendation for the Medal; ---

No. 147847 Lance Corporal Macrae, Alexander McGregor.

During the night and early morning of September 15/16th, the enemy opened up a very heavy bombardment of our trenches, Lance Corporal Macrae, who was doing duty as a linesman, went out on the lines at 10 PM, and worked continuously till 6 AM repairing breaks at great risk, during the whole of this time shells were falling all around him, breaking time and time again the telephone lines on both sides of where he was working. In spite of this Macrae endeavoured to keep up communication between Headquarters and the right forward Company, and it was only because the line was broken faster than he could repair it that he was not successful.

I have great pleasure in bringing this to your notice, as this NCO has at all times shown great devotion to duty and gallantry under fire, particularly in the SOMME and at VIMY on April 9, when he went over with the attacking troops and endeavoured to keep up communication during the first four days of the battle.

Hoping this information will be of some comfort to you, and expressing my sincere sympathy, in your loss of a dear son, and a gallant comrade.

Yours sincerely

Indecipherable name,

Lieut. & Asst. Adjutant,

For C. C. 78th Canadian Infantry Battalion,

“Winnipeg Grenadiers”.

Alex received the Medal in 1917.

The name of our brother Alex Macrae, MM 147847, Corporal, is on the ROLL OF HONOUR IN ELLANDONAN CASTLE , WHICH WAS UNVEILED ON July 22nd 1932, of Clansmen killed in the Great War 1914-1918. There are 423 names on it. Our first cousin’s name is also there, Fred W. Macrae, 830469, of Arden Manitoba. The name of Lieut.-Colonel John Macrae is also on the Honour Roll. He was from Guelph, Ontario, and he was with the Canadian Army Medical Corps. He wrote “In Flander’s Fields”. Their pictures are all in the Clan Macrae book of the Great War.