Name
John Stewart Macdonald
1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/07/1918
33.
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
London Regiment (Prince of Wales Own Civil Service Rifles) attd 2nd/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers.
15th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HOUCHIN BRITISH CEMETERY
II. E. 27.
France
Headstone Inscription
"TIME DOES NOT HEAL SO GREAT A SORROW NEVER FORGOTTEN"
UK & Other Memorials
St Matthews Church Memorial, Oxhey, Oxhey, Herts, War Memorial
Pre War
John Stewart Macdonald was born in Darlington, Co Durham, in 1884, son of Stewart Muir Macdonald (B1865 in Cardiff) a Bank Cashier and Lillian Ada Macdonald (nee Charnley) (B1865 in Preston, Lancs). He was the eldest of three children.
John was Baptised on 17th September 1884, at St Cuthbert's Church, Darlington, Co Durham.
1891 Census records John aged 6, living with his parents and brother Walter 4, in Formby, Lancs. The 1901 Census records the family are now living at 1 Beechcroft Road, Bushey, Herts. John is working as a "Dry Goods Clerk"
1911 Census records John aged 28, and single, he is employed as a "Clerk in a Drapery Warehouse" and lodging with Mr Browton at "The Laburnham" 50 Aldenham Road, Oxhey, Herts.
John was a Bell-Ringer at St Matthews Church, Oxhey, there is a plaque in the doorway to commemorate him and Frank Tingey Martin.
John married Constance Agnes Gay, the daughter of Robert and Luisa Gay, in Lewisham, London, in 1917.
Wartime Service
John was Attested on 3rd September 1914, at Westminster, London into the Territorial Force for 4 years service with the colours to serve in the UK, he was aged 30, joining the 14th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish), with the service number 3092 and then 510466.
He served at home until March 1915, when he agreed to serve overseas (If you were a member of the T. F. you had to agree to serve aboard you could not be forced to go overseas) he embarked at Southampton on 10th March 1915, and served on the Western Front, he was wounded on 1st July 1916, at the Battle of the Somme.
He returned home for treatment on 3rd July 1916, on his recovery he served at home until 28th February 1918, when he was discharged in consequence of appointment of a commission. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant to the 15th Battalion, London Regiment, 'D' Company, in March 1918.
He killed when a rifle grenade prematurely exploded. He was attached to the 2nd/5th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers at the time.
Additional Information
His wife, Mrs C. A. Macdonald, 10, St Andrews Mansions, Dorset St, W1. ordered his headstone inscription: "TIME DOES NOT HEAL SO GREAT A SORROW NEVER FORGOTTEN".
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
