John Alexander Macallan

Rank 
Rifleman
Regiment 
London Regiment
Date of death 
16 January 1916
Age of death 
26
Local memorial 
Cemetery / Memorial 
France
Biography 

Born on 10th February 1890 at Forest Gate, son of George (Workshop Manager for the Great Eastern Railway), and Ellen Benedicta MacAllan. 1891: With his parents and 8 siblings at 9 Earlham Grove, Stratford. 1901: Boarding with his sister Mary and brother Sidney at Banbury Road, Brackley, Northamptonshire, home of 70 year old Ann Hodgkins. 1911: A Locomotive Engine Fitter (GER) boarding with Charles Simpson at 66 Windmill Lane, Stratford.

He joined the Great Eastern Railway as an Office Boy at the Cambridge Locomotive Depot on 23th April 1904, entered the workshops in 1906, transferring to Stratford on 07-07. There he became a Fitter and Erector before taking the position of Works Manager (Draftsman) in 1913.

When he joined 17 Battalion London Regiment (Poplar & Stepney Rifles) at Bow in 1914, his residence was given as Woodford. His parents are known to have lived at 182 West Grove.

He arrived in France on 9th March 1915, and the Battalion fought its first action at the Battle of Loos in September/October 1915.  On 4th January 1916 the British 47 (London) Division Including 17 London, relieved the French 5 Division in the line at Loos.  Corporal A Canning wrote that they had entered the trenches on Sunday evening 16th January 1916 at c. 20.00. About one hour later as MacAllan was performing sentry duty, he was shot through the head by a sniper.  

Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian

Sources:

Ancestry.com