He was the son of Alexander and Florence Macgregor of Mold and the husband of Mrs M Macgregor 13, Harrowley Rd Mold. (CWGC)

He was born in 1892 in Bangor Caernarvonshire. (Ref John Wallace Macgregor, B 1892 Qtr Mar, District Bangor, Vol 11b page 312). His father Alexander was a Scotsman from Aloa (A tailor’s cutter in 1891) and his mother Florence Mae (nee Wynne) had been born in Leeswood, Mold.  There were 5 children born to this family. John Wallace was the eldest. Mary Elizabeth was born in 1894  in Wrexham and then the three youngest Catherine Margaret b 1897, Alexander b1898 and FlorenceMay b 1900 were all born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

In the last quarter of 1900,  John Wallace’s father Alexander died aged 37yrs and when the 1901 census was carried out,  the family was split between relatives Some of whom  lived close to each other. In the 1901 census, our soldier John Wallace was aged 9yrs and was living with his Great Uncle and Aunt in New St Mold (Richard Roberts and his sister Elizabeth Roberts).

In 1901 His widowed mother Florence was living in Jubilee Villa New Street where her brother – -law, baker John Thomas Jones was head of the household. His wife was Catherine Mary Jones. Florence had with her three of her children – Mary Elizabeth 7 yrs, Alex 3 yrs and Florence 1yr.

There was one other child, Catherine Margaret and we had difficulty locating her in 1901 but we think we have found her. Kate McGregor aged 4 was registered as a ‘visitor’ at  aged 4 years old  at 15 Mark Street, Broadway, West Ham, North. This house was occupied by a William Brackley ( a carpenter and his family). There were a number of boarders at this house including one Louis Roberts aged 29, a married manager of a boot retailers. He had been born in Mold Flintshire. We guess he was the connection with little Kate.

In the 1911 census John Wallace was living at 64 New Street, Mold. The household was headed by his Great Aunt, 70 yr old Elizabeth Roberts who was single and who lived on ‘private means’.  John Wallace himself was 19 years old and  was a clerk with the London and North West Railway Company.  Also living in the house were the following – Florence Macgregor aged 45 and a widow (John Wallace’s mother), Mary Elizabeth Macgregor 17yrs – an apprentice miliner,  Catherine Margaret 14yrs, Alexander Macgregor 13 and Florence May 11rs. (These last three were scholars) .

John Wallace Macgregor married Frances M Sparke (1916, Qtr Dec, District Holywell, Vol 11b, page 312)

UK Soldiers who Died in The Great War 1914 -19  accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk  confirms most of  the regimental details at the top of this page. It also tells us that he he enlisted in Mold. This source says he died of wounds on 22nd October 1917 in France. In fact, his grave is in Brandehoek Cemetery which suggests that he died in Belgium, almost certainly in the Battle of Passchendaele.

The Register of Soldier’s Effects in which the army calculated what moneys were owed to deceased soldiers includes an entry for John Wallace MacGregor. It says that he died on the 22nd October 1917 in 13 (Canadian?) Field Ambulance. This source too, says it was in France which we believe is incorrect (Border lines were blurred, messy and confusing). A total of £6 .. 11sh .. 9d was paid to his widow and sole legatee – Frances Mary MacGregor.- in 3 separate payments.

John Wallace MacGregor left a will. The England and Wales National Probate Calendar (Index of wills and Administration) includes an entry for ” John Wallace MacGregor. of Mold Flintshire, Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery, who died in France on active service. Admin (with will) London 4th February to Frances Mary MacGregor widow, Effects £809.  19sh .. 4d

(Quite a remarkable amount for a Railway Clerk and a Gunner in those times )

John Wallace MacGregor is also remembered by his former employers.The LNWR.

160587 Gunner J W MacGregor Royal Garrison Artillery 22nd October 1917 A Loving Husband Sadly missed by his wife

Many thanks to Dave Norton for making this photographic record for the website