McCready, Thomas

Details
Category: 1918-19

Thomas McCready

Black Watch

1/6th Batt. Black Watch
He is remembered with honour on the Loos Memorial, the Scottish National War Memorial, St Joseph's Church Roll of Honour and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 4 Line 7.

The family home was at 26, Maitland Street, Helensburgh. The son of Bernard and Rose Ann McCready (nee Mundie).
Siblings: homas was the eldest of a large family of seven. Names unknown.
mccready familyThomas McCready was born and brought up in Helensburgh the eldest son of a general labourer. He was employed as a Porter at Helensburgh Central Station before enlisting.
He joined the Black Watch in July of 1917 and in March the following year was sent to France.
Just 9 days later, he was reported missing in action. Later it was confirmed that he had died, killed in action, at that date. He was 19 years of age.

McDougall, John (Morton Thomson)

Details
Category: 1918-19

John (Morton Thomson) McDougall - served as John Thomson

Machine Gun Corp

Clyde Royal Garrison Artillery and then 14th Light Armoured Motor Battery of the Machine Gun Corps
He is remembered with honour on
The Basra War Memorial (Thomson), the Scottish National War Memorial (Thompson), the Old Parish Church and Helensburgh War Memorial as McDougall, Column 4 Line 11.

The family home was at Alma Place, Helensburgh. The son of Lawrence and Mary Burns.
Siblings: William, Jennet, Dugald, Robert, Annie and Marion. William, his younger brother, also died in the war. Dugald and Robert were too young to go to war.
John McDougall gave up his apprenticeship as a gardener to the Johnson family at Rhu Arden, Upper Sutherland Crescent in the town to join the Clyde Royal Garrison Artillery in 1912. He was posted to the RGA Battery at Portkil, Kilcreggan in August 1914. A year later John was listed as a deserter. John was not really a deserter, he wrote later that he felt he was not contributing enough to the war effort and decided to join the Motor Machine Gun Service (part of the Royal Artillery) under the name of Thomson, his mother's maiden name.
John died at the Battle of Sharqat only three days before the end of the war in Mesopotamia. He was awarded the DCM, the citation reads: 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Huwaish on the 27th October, 1918. When his armoured car received a direct hit and was stopped, he jumped out, and under very heavy fire at close range tried to start the engine again'.
John also received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. Pictured above (left) with his brother William.

MacKay, Murdoch (Murdo)

Details
Category: 1918-19

Murdoch (Murdo) MacKay

Seaforth Highlanders

8th Batt. Seaforth Highlanders
He is remembered with honour on the Arras Memorial, the Scottish National Memorial, Park Church memorial and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 4 Line 17.

The family home was at 28, West Clyde Street, Helensburgh.
The son of Murdoch and Rachael MacKay.
Siblings: Murdo has three sisters, Peggy, Jeannie and Annie. He also had an older half brother, Robert Duncan (draper).

Murdo MacKay was born in Cardross and brought up in Helensburgh where his father was a telephone linesman. On leaving school he was employed as an apprentice with T.G. Allan, ironmongers. He also served as an assistant scout master.

Murdo was killed in action at Arras. His remains were not recovered. He was just 19 years of age. It is recorded that at the time of his death he was a resident of Stirling.

MacDonald, John

Details
Category: 1918-19

John MacDonald

Royal Garrison Artillery

286th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
He is remembered with honour on the Soissons Memorial, the Scottish National Memorial, Aberdeen University Roll of Honour, St Andrew’s Church and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 4 Line 10.

The family home was at Teasdale, 43, John Street, Helensburgh. The son of Alexander and Margaret MacDonald, 18 Sand, Gairloch.
John MacDonald was the son of a crofter in Gairloch, Ross-shire. He obtained a place at Aberdeen University and graduated with an M.A. in 1902. He taught maths in Castle Douglas and married Mary Conchar in 1907. In 1910 he was appointed mathematics master at Hermitage H.G. School in Helensburgh. In 1914 he was awarded a B.Sc. (London) with highest honours. He joined the local volunteers in 1914 and joined the Artists Rifles in May 1917. He was then commissioned into the R.G.A. and transferred to France in March 1918. Killed in action in May of that year aged 38. He left his wife and two small children, who were at the time of his death residing with her family in Castle Douglas.

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