My Great Uncle Ewan McRae was born on the 30th December 1891 in Coull, Aberdeenshire. He was the eldest of 7 children born to Farquhar and Isabella McRae - brother of Elizabeth, Jessie, William, Jane and twins John and Forbes. He served in the 2nd Battalion Black Watch (S/3569), for unknown reasons under the alias of John Campbell after enlisting in London. He was 26 when he was killed in action during the Battle of Istabulat in Mesopotamia on 21st April 1917, one of 4 killed that day from his regiment. Ewan is remembered with honour at Basra Memorial in Iraq. Always remembered with grateful thanks for his sacrifice.

Elaine Smith