Private John Daniel McRae

1. Private, 25th Battalion, Infantry (Army).
2. Private, 185th Battalion, Infantry (Army).

Son of Mary (nee Holmes) McRae, of Dominion No. 4, Glace Bay; Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and the late Roderick McRae. Native of The Points, West Bay, Nova Scotia.

From the Cape Breton Post, 09 Nov. 2009, by Leroy Peach

At 27, he enlisted in the 185th Battalion of the Nova Scotia Highlanders on April 24, 1916, and trained first at Broughton. He was in “A” Company, the Cape Breton Company. His mess hall was in the basement of the famous Broughton Arms Hotel. On May 16, 1916, Jack was transferred to Camp Aldershot for further training with the other three companies of that battalion. He sailed for England on the SS Olympic on Oct. 13, 1916

He was transferred to France, Jan. 3, 1918. The 185th having been dismantled, he was taken on strength with “C” Company, 25th Battalion, Canadian British Expeditionary Force

His full taste of combat took place on Aug. 7, 1918, at the Battle of Amiens, largely a stalemate, where his
company was in a support role, the holding of captured ground. For two weeks his company retired from the
battle to rest. At the Aug. 25 church parade, Jack had in his pocket his New Testament, with the words on the flyleaf, “Be strong and of good courage.” On Aug. 26 at the Battle of Arras there was heavy fighting. In the early morning of Aug. 28, Jack was killed. In his jacket pocket was a post card with stains of blood on it and a letter from his sister Mamie. Jack did not get to send the card.
The Chaplain’s letter to Jack’s parents stated that Jack fell near Fontain Wood. He was shot through the head. The Chaplain sent along his pay book and New Testament.