b. 16/10/1895 Edinburgh, Scotland. d. 22/10/1918 Hoogemolen, Belgium.
David Stuart McGregor (1895-1918) was born in Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland on 16th October 1895, the second son of David McGregor, a tailor and clothier, and his wife Annie. He had an older sister and brother, James and Marjorie, and a younger brother, Ronald.
David S McGregor VC
In December 1911, when David was 16 years old, he went to work for Commercial Bank of Scotland as an apprentice at its Edinburgh North Bridge branch. The following April he transferred to Edinburgh Stockbridge branch. At first, his work would have involved running errands and undertaking basic administrative tasks. As his apprenticeship continued, he would have been taught how to undertake all aspects of banking clerical work, and how to serve customers at the counter. He was paid just £20 a year throughout his 3-year apprenticeship – less than a third of an unskilled builder’s wage at that time.
In 1914 David joined the army, initially as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery. In October 1915 he was commissioned into the Royal Scots. He was sent to Egypt in May 1916, and later served on the Western Front.
On 22nd October 1918, at Hoogemolen, Belgium, David was in command of a section of machine guns near Hoogmolen, Belgium. Finding he needed to move his guns across an area of bare ground exposed to enemy fire, he ordered his men to take a more sheltered route, and jumped up onto the gun’s carriage to guide it – under intense fire – across the 600 yards of open ground. The carriage, its horses and the driver were all hit, but David got the gun to safety, and to a position where it could engage the enemy and allow the army’s advance to resume. He continued to direct the fire until, after about an hour, he was shot and killed.
David was buried in Staseghem Communal Cemetery, Belgium with full military honours. He was posthumously awarded the VC on 13th December 1918. After the Great War, his sister Marjorie and brother Ronald both emigrated to New Zealand. The family donated David’s medals including the VC, British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal 1914-19 to the Royal Scots Museum, Edinburgh Castle.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: ROYAL SCOTS MUSEUM, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.
BURIAL PLACE: STASEGHEM COMMUNAL CEMETERY, BELGIUM. ROW A GRAVE 1.
Acknowledgement:
Thomas Stewart – Images of the McGregor VC Medal Group at the Royal Scots Museum, Edinburgh, and the VC Stone at the Royal Scots Club, Edinburgh.