Surname:	MacPherson
Forename(s):	William
Rank:	Warrant Officer Class II Company Sergeant Major
Service number:	2924275
Regiment:	5th Queens Own Cameron Highlanders
Date of death:	24 October 1942 Aged 36
Place of death:	El Alamein, Egypt
Awards Buried Commemorated	Mentioned in Despatches El Alamein War Cemetery Joint grave X. C. 21. Kingussie War Memorial.

Background

William was born on 6 June 1906 at Meddat Bridge, Logie Easter, Ross and Cromarty. His parents were William John MacPherson a railway surfaceman and Mary Ann MacPherson m.s. Ross. At the time of his birth his parents were living at Meddat in property owned by the Countess of Cromartie. His parents had married at Logie Easter on 19 April 1905. His mother, Mary Ann, died on 17 May 1918, aged 33 years, at Meadowside Cottages, Alvie. Her husband, William John, was now a Foreman Surfaceman and he was to die on 13 August 1942 at Balavil Gatehouse.

In the 1911 Census William is living with his parents and his sisters Sophia aged 2 and Isabella aged 8 months at Gateside Cottage, Logie Easter where his father is described as a Railway Surfaceman working for the Highland Railway Company.

William married Mary Clark Murdoch on 3 November 1939 at The Hotel, Garmouth. Mary (30) was described as a Post Office Clerkess from York House, Garmouth and William (33) a CSM Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Balavil Gate House, Kingussie.

Prior to war service he worked for the L.M.S Railway Company at Kingussie as a surfaceman and was also a member of the Badenoch (Terretorial) Company 4th Camerons.

War Record

William died at El Alamein, Egypt 24 October 1942.  His body was exhumed on 4 April 1945 from a temporary grave at El Daba and re-buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery in joint grave X. C. 21.

His gravestone has the inscription chosen by the family.

GONE BEFORE

Also remembered on the St Andrew’s United Free Church Memorial now in Kingussie Parish Church