John McGregor McGowan MM

Rank:

Lance Corporal

Regimental number:

164153

Unit at enlistment:

84th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Cemetery:

St. Joseph's Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario

Awards or decorations:

Military Medal

Commemorated at:

Alexandra Presbyterian Church

Birth country:

Scotland

Birth county:

Forfarshire

Birth city:

Dundee

Address at enlistment:

71 Erie Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

43 Dundonald Street, Dundee, Scotland

Trade or calling:

Butcher

Religious denominations:

Presbyterian

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Gallantry medals:

Yes

Letters and documents

London Gazette: 30364
Date: November 2, 1917
Honour or Award: Military Medal
Authority: R.O. 3767 Burstall, September 10, 1917
Name: John McGregor McGowan (164153)
Unit: 4th Canadian Machine Gun Company

Details: “August 15th, 1917.” For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. During a hostile counter attack when one of our infantry posts was almost surrendered and one party of the enemy was within 25 yards of his position he kept his guns firing continuously and inflicted very severe casualties. His courage and coolness materially assisted in breaking up the attacks. On another occasion when his gun ammunition and all the members of his crew were buried he worked unceasingly under heavy shell fire dug them up, and got the gun into action again.

BX December 8, 1917

Military Medal for Local man – Lance Corporal John McGregor McGowan is Awarded Recognition of Valor

Mrs. John McGregor, 71 Erie Avenue, received word today that her nephew, Lance Corporal John McGregor McGowan, who left Brantford over two years ago with the 37th Battalion has won the Military Medal for acts of valor and devotion to duty. Lance-Corp. John McGowan had two brothers, one James who paid the supreme price November 13, 1916 and Sergt. David McGowan reported seriously wounded and missing. The latter two enlisted from their home at Dundee, Scotland, at the beginning of the war.

BX October 2, 1918

Mrs. A. Wallace, 5 Brighton Row, has received a letter from her nephew, Corporal John McGregor McGowan of the 2nd C.M.G. Battalion, stating that he had been admitted to the Auxiliary Military hospital Bromborough, Cheshire, Eng., suffering from Several wounds in his arms and legs. The letter is of a cheery nature and he hopes to be around soon again. Corporal John McGowan won the Military Medal last year, and before enlisting three years ago, resided with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John MacGregor, 71 Erie Avenue.

BX August 25, 1947

Fatally Hurt in Fall From Second Floor

John McGowan, 97 Murray Street, 53 years of age, died in the Brantford General Hospital early Sunday morning, eight hours after he had fallen from a second-story verandah.

When the mishap occurred about 11 p.m. Saturday, firemen were called with an ambulance and rushed Mr. McGowan to hospital, where he was attended by Dr. A.J. Craven. His condition was seen immediately to be critical. He had suffered a fractured skull, among other injuries. Coroner Dr. A.A. Overholt was called Sunday morning, and reported it was unlikely there would be an inquest.

Mr. McGowan, the husband of Catherine Garrety, was born in Dundee, Scotland, and came to Brantford at an early age.

He served in the First World War, and had been an employee of the Massey-Harris Company for the past twenty-eight years. He was a member of the Quarter Century Club and the Massey-Harris Ex-Servicemen’s Association.

Surviving besides his widow are five daughters, Mrs. George Deline, Toronto, Mrs. Harry Joslin, Brantford, Miss Betty McGowan, Brantford, Miss Mae McGowan, Brantford, and Miss Elizabeth McGowan, at home’ his mother, Mrs. Devina McGowan, Brantford; two brothers, George McGowan, Brantford, and Doulas McGowan, Walkerville, and a sister, Mrs. John Simpson, Brantford.

Mr. McGowan is resting at Thorpe Brothers’ Funeral Home. The funeral will be conducted Wednesday morning to St. Mary’s Church for Requiem Mass. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

BX August 28, 1947

John McGregor McGowan

The funeral of John McGregor McGowan, husband of Catherine Garrety, 97 Murray Street, was conducted Wednesday morning, from Thorpe Brothers’ Funeral Home to St. Mary’s Church, where Requiem Mass was said by Rev. Joseph Wesmeinksi of St. Joseph’s Church. Pallbearers were Douglas McGowan, Peter McDonald, Fred byers, George McGowan, John McDonald and James Cook. Interment was in St. Joseph’s Cemetery.