Donald McPherson

Military Information

  • Date of enlistment: August 1914
  • Place of enlistment: Dunkeld
  • Service no: 315783
  • Rank: Sergeant
  • Service Occupation:
  • Awards: Mentioned in Despatches
  • Regiment/Service: Black Watch
  • Unit/Ship: 13th (Scottish Horse) Battalion
  • Place of Death: France
  • Age at Death: 31
  • Date of Death: 06.10.1918
  • Burial Country: France
  • Cemetery: Templeux-Le-Guerard British Cemetery
  • Grave/Mem Ref no: I.J.19

Personal Information

  • Date of Birth:
  • Place of Birth: Dundee
  • Address: 5 Westfield Lane, Dundee
  • Occupation: Newspaper Reporter, Dundee Courier
  • Mother:

    Margaret McPherson

  • Father:

    George McPherson, 36 North Lindsay St, Dundee

  • Siblings:

    Isabella & Ann Rose

  • Spouse:

    Eleanor McPherson, 5 Westfield Lane, Perth Rd, Dundee

  • Children:

More about Donald McPherson

Donald Macpherson joined the Scottish Horse in August 1914 and fought in Gallipoli, where contacted malaria and dysentery. He came home to recuperate but volunteered for further oversea service. He was sent to Salonica where he distinguished himself as a scout leader and was mentioned in dispatches. In 1918 he landed in France with his Battalion. His brother-in-law, writing home, thus described his death: “We were going up to take over the front line when we were heavily shelled. Headquarters Company stopped, and as we passed Donald gave me a ‘cheerio’, but just five minutes later a shell landed amongst them, killing Donald and the Adjutant.”

Donald Macpherson   315783   Black Watch.

A former member of the “Courier” reporting staff, Sergeant Donald Macpherson, Scottish Horse (attached Black Watch), has been killed in action.

Sergt. Macpherson was killed instantaneously by a piece of shell on the night of Sunday 6th October.  He enlisted in the Scottish Horse in August, 1914, and first saw active service at Gallipoli.  He was on the Peninsula for a considerable time before he fell victim to malaria and dysentery.  When he had recovered his health Sergeant Macpherson again volunteered for overseas service and rejoined his battalion in Egypt, and subsequently went to the Balkan front, where against the Bulgarians, he distinguished himself as a scout, and was mentioned in despatches.  The battalion was transferred to France this summer and little more than six weeks ago Sergt. Macpherson had fourteen days’ leave.  He was married before he returned to the front, and the sad news of the gallant soldier’s death has reached his widow, who resides at 5 Westfield Lane, in a letter from her brother, Corporal George Peebles, who is also in the Scottish Horse and in the company to which Sergeant Macpherson belonged.

A crack Shot, Sergeant Macpherson gained many honours in miniature rifle competitions in Dundee and also in Arbroath, where he was “Courier” representative for some time.  The news of his death has cast a gloom over his colleagues and friends.  In the army he displayed the keen and alert spirit of the ideal soldier, and in all his walks of life he was an exemplary and upright young man.  Sergt. Macpherson was the only son of Mr and Mrs George Macpherson, 36 N. Lindsay Street.

Dundee Courier 19th October 1918

Additional information kindly supplied by Michael Caldwell, grave memorial image very kindly supplied by Karen Mitchell

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