On 18 August 1915, The Courier published a photograph of 2186 Pte. James McGregor, 1st Black Watch, who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry at the Aubers Ridge.
McGregor was an ‘Old Contemptible’, having landed in France with the 2nd Black Watch in October 1914.
He was later transferred to the 6th Battalion, and killed in action on 21 March 1918, the first day of the German Spring Offensive.
Pte. McGregor, D.C.M., son of Mr and Mrs William McGregor, 1 Lowden’s Alley, is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.DUNDEE SOLDIER AWARDED THE D.C.M. FOR SAVING LIVES OF WOUNDED OFFICER AND MEN.
Private James McGregor, 1st Black Watch, whose name appeared in the honours list of 5th August, is a Dundee man. His parents reside at 1 Lowden’s Alley, Dundee.
The official description of the deed which won the D.C.M. for Private McGregor is as follows: –
Private J. McGregor, 1st Black Watch, for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 9th May, at Rue-du-Bois. While lying on the German parapet firing Private McGregor saw a bomb thrown into a shell hole some distance behind him, and knowing that an officer and two men were lying wounded in this hole, he ran back, picked up the bomb, and hurled it away before it exploded, thereby undoubtedly saving their lives.
Private McGregor, who is 23 years of age, has been in the army for four years. As a member of the 2d Black Watch he served eighteen months in India, and came from that country with the Expeditionary Force to France. He was then transferred to the 1st Battalion.
Before enlisting Private McGregor served two years’ apprenticeship as a blacksmith with Kirk & Coutts, ironmongers, Overgate, Dundee. The Courier, Wednesday, 18 August 1915, 4.