Captain Merrick Rennie McCracken
Died of Illness in WW1
Date of Death:
General Information
Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
220
Cause of Death (in war):
Died of Illness
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Canadian Engineers
Battalion:
2nd Divisional Signals Company
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Danville, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
22 years 6 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
26 years 9 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
52 years 5 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Student
Next of Kin:
Mrs. George McCracken, mother.
Danville, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
Danville, Quebec
Religion:
Congregationalist
Place of Enlistment:
Ottawa, Ontario
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 9.0 in / 175 cm
Weight:
172 lbs / 78 kg
Chest:
36.0 in / 91 cm
Expansion:
3.0 in / 8 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Montreal, Quebec
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
1535 days in service
Buried at:
Danville Protestant Cemetery, Danville, Quebec
Plot:
Lot 15, Range 2. Row 2.
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW1 |
Captain |
Canadian Engineers |
Army |
2nd Divisional Signals Company |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Sergeant |
Canadian Engineers |
Army |
2nd Divisional Signals Company |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Lieutenant |
Canadian Engineers |
Army |
2nd Divisional Signals Company |
|
|
|
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW1 |
Military Cross First Bar |
|
|
|
London Gazette 30530 |
| New Year Award: 1918. No citation. |
| WW1 |
Military Cross |
|
|
|
London Gazette |
| For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He supervised the maintenance of communications throughout the operations in a most efficient and capable manner, personally visiting the captured area to reconnoitre positions for visual stations. His efforts met with marked success, and the energetic and indefatigable manner in which he carried out his duty for four days without rest or sleep, and many time under heavy shell fire, materially contributed to the success of the mission. |
| WW1 |
Military Medal |
|
|
|
London Gazette 29805 |
During the period of heavy bombardment from April 6th to 10th, 1916, for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty under shell fire repairing broken wires.
For 6-8 hours on each of the consecutive nights he remained in the heavily shelled area, repairing wires and it was due to his coolness and untiring energies that communication to Battalions was maintained. S.F.W. 3121 |
| WW1 |
War Medal 1939-45 |
|
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal & Clasp |
|
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Defence Medal |
|
|
|
|
Additional Service Notes
embarked from Canada with the 2nd Division Canadian Engineers 14 May 1915
Promoted 2nd Corporal 4 June 1915
Proceeded to France 14 Sept 1915
Promoted to Sergeant 1 October 1915
To be temp Lieutenant Canadian Engineers and posted to the 2nd Division Signal Company 16 June 1916
To be acting Captain
Promoted to temp Captain, Canadian Engineers 31 Oct 1918
Sailed for Canada 3 May 1919
Enlisted in No 3 Company Canadian Forestry Corps CASF as a Major 30 July 1940
Depateted for Europe 6 April 1941, disembarked at Gourock
Returned to Canada 8 March 1942 Medically unfit
SOS Medically unfit 31 March 1942
Additional Next of Kin Notes
George Pringle McCracken
Birth 15 APRIL 1865 • Hinchinbrook, Quebec, Canada
Death 19 MAY 1924 • Danville, Quebec, Canada
Merrick Rennie McCracken
Birth 27 JUN 1892 • Danville, Quebec, Canada
Death 26 JAN 1945 • Montréal
Wife: Julia Donahue Birth 4 SEP 1893 • Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA Death 25 JAN 1973 • Cedarhurst, Long Island, NY, USA
Married 23 June 1925 • Montréal, Québec, Canada
By 1945 had 3 boys, Charles Angus *14), Stuart Rennie (12) and Charles Donald (3)
Research Notes
This man survived World War 1, and died in World War 2 ranked as a Major on January 26, 1945
2nd Canadian Divisional Signal Coy - War Diary Entry:
1916-06-16 - Page 15 - Sgt's McKinnon and McCracken reported on appointments as Lieutenants attached from Cdn Corps Headquarters Signal Co.
