S/3588 L/Cpl
1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, 76th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division
Age: 23
Date of Death: 3.4.16
Buried: Menin Gate Memorial Panel 38
Family history: Son of Alexander and Mary McLean, 280 Dundas Street, Grangemouth. Before enlisting in the Gordon Highlanders in August 1914, he was employed by the Anglo American Oil Company at the Grangemouth oil tank depot. He landed in France on 22 June 1915.
The action leading to his death
On the 3 April 1916, the 8th Battalion King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment carried out an attack on the German trenches at Crater 5 at St Eloi.
The Gordons assisted them in a demonstration attack, assisted by a squad of bombers from the 8th King’s Own. The 8th Kings Own took five officers and 77 other ranks prisoner. With the lines consolidated they came under heavy enemy shelling before they were relieved on 4 April.
Friends
The death of Charles McKerracher was reported in a letter to his parents by his friend Lance Corporal James McLean. James wrote that Charles was killed by shellfire on 3 March 1916. https://www.theypressalient.com/post/charles-mckerracher
James was to be killed on 3 April 1916. Both men had worked together at the Anglo American Oil Company at the Grangemouth oil tank depot.
Medals Awarded
1915 Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal
