Surname:	McRae
Forename(s):	Kenneth
Rank:	Gunner
Service number:	11423619
Regiment:	132 (The Glamorgan Yeomanry) Field Regiment Royal Artillery
Date of death:	4 October 1943 Aged 20
Place of death:	Foggia, Italy
Buried Commemorated	Bari War Cemetery, Italy 6.B.12 Kingussie War Memorial

Background

Kenneth was born in 1923 and his birth was registered in Kingussie. He was the son of  Duncan MacRae and Lena MacRae m.s.Jack whose marriage had been registered in Kingussie in 1905.

In the 1921 Census, prior to Kenneth’s birth, his parents Duncan, a carter, and his mother Lena were living at 2 Dunbarry Cottages, Kingussie with five daughters and four sons.

Both of Kenneth’s parents and his brother Duncan are buried in Kingussie Cemetery.

War Record

Kenneth died on 4 October 1943 and was initially buried, under a wooden cross, in Foggia Civil Cemetery.  His body was exhumed and reburied at Bari Military Cemetery, Italy on 26 September 1944.

Possibly the situation where Kenneth lost his life “The Allies landed on mainland Italy in early September 1943. 78th Division began to arrive on 22 September, and immediately began advancing towards Foggia and its important airfields. Next, they were to cross to Biferno and capture Termoli, with two brigades sent round the coast by landing craft and one wading across the river on 3 October. Unfortunately, heavy rain the next day made the river impassable, just when a counter-attack by Panzers was developing.”

His grave has the inscription chosen by the family.

Remembrance

Keeps him ever near