Name
Colin Alexander MacGregor
21 May 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/09/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Gordon Highlanders
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 115 to 119.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Bengeo School Memorial - Location TBC, Birmingham University WW1 Tablets Edgbaston, University of Birmingham War Memorial, Epsom Golf Club War Memorial, War Memorial Chapel at Rugby School
Pre War
Born on 21st May in 1886, in South Kensington, London, to parents Alexander and Edith Muriel, he had one sister Helen Muriel.
In 1891 aged 4 he was living at 5 Collingham Gardens, South Kensington, with his mother and sister, whilst his father, who was a Civil Engineer was visiting in Liverpool. Educated at Bengeo School and Rugby College from 1900 to 1904,
He also spent some time in Engineering Department of Birmingham University. From 1907 he was working on Tea & Rubber Plantations on the Perak and Kuala Selangor Estates.
Wartime Service
Following the outbreak war, Colin returned to UK and applied for a Temporary commission for the duration of the war requesting to serve with the Gordon Highlanders. The London Gazette of 2nd January 1915 announced his commission as Temporary 2nd Lieut, 9th (Service) Battalion effective from 28 December 1914. His unit arrived in Boulogne in July 1915 and was initially a Pioneer battalion but they acted as infantry during the battle of Loos which began on the 25th September 1915. The battalion suffered heavy casualties on that day with 68 men and 5 officers killed. The following day they attacked enemy trenches again and were pushed back again, during this attack Colin was killed. He was initially listed as missing but there were a number of reports from other members of his unit that he had been hit and killed, but his body was never found.
One witness as quoted as saying “They told me that Lieut. Macgregor tried to get his men to charge the enemy again, there were only 30 of them but MacGregor jumped up onto the parapet of the trench and was shot”
Additional Information
His medals were claimed by his Mother, and they were sent to her in London. His Soldiers Effects amounted to £47 18s 6d and were passed to his sister Helen Muriel De Morgan.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Ann Hacke
Terry & Glenis Collins
