Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram June 1918. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Photo of Alexander George McGillivray – Alexander George "Buller" McGillivray was born 4 October 1899 in Hamilton, Ontario the son of Donald McGillivray (1864-1903) and Margaret Ann Russell (1867-1923). Both parents were natives of Hamilton. His father had been a train conductor with the Grand Trunk Railway and was killed in a train accident when Buller was four. His maternal grandfather, Richard Watson Russell, was the first manufacturing jeweler in Hamilton. The family attended Knox Presbyterian Church. Alec enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps on graduation from Hamilton Collegiate Institute in September 1917. An older brother, Donald, had already served overseas with the 86th Machine Gun Battalion. Alec trained at Leaside Camp and at Camp Hicks, Texas. Still only 18, he left for overseas on March 17, 1918. Alec was stationed at Shrewsbury, near Manchester. His portrait in uniform was photographed by Andrew Hunter of Shrewsbury and Manchester. Alec and 2nd Lieut. Claude Edmond Watchorn of Calgary, Alberta died when their plane hit a flagpole and crashed on the grounds of Thornycroft Hall on Sunday June 16. The previous Sunday, Alec had been a guest at Thornycroft Hall, and accompanied by his hostess, had attended service in the nearby church of All Saints, Siddington. The funeral was conducted at that church on Wednesday, June 19 and the two are buried side by side in the adjacent churchyard. In addition to the funeral, a memorial service was held at the church the following Sunday. Two oaks were planted in their memory at Thornycroft Hall (now Siddington Manor).

Gravesite – Gravesite at All Saints, Siddington.

Newspaper Clipping