William James Macro

Service no. 17963

Private, East Surrey Regiment, 9th Battalion

Killed in action on 3 September 1916, aged 16

Born in Lambeth; lived in Clapham; enlisted at Kingston-upon-Thames

Remembered at Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, Somme France

British Army Pension Records 1914-1920

William James Macro attested at Camberwell on 10 June 1915 and was accepted for service in the 21st Battalion of the London Regiment. He gave his address as 157 Wirtemberg Street (renamed Stonhouse Street in 1919), Clapham and stated that he was of age. He was given the service no. 4225. He served 184 days (about 6 months - all of it "at home") before he was discharged having made a "mis-statement as to age" (he was in fact just under 15)

Medical form stated he was 19 and 1 month

5 feet 3 1/2 inches tall

Chest measured 35 1/2 inches + 2 1/2 inches expansion

Physical development: good

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 Edward Alfred Macro, then 15 and his brother William J. Macro, 10, lived at 17 Seneca Road in Clapham with their parents, Brixton-born Henry Macro, 45, a motorman for London County Council Trams, and Florence Macro, 39, born in Islington, north London. There were 11 children, of whom 9 were listed on the census:

Elenor Macro, 17, a domestic servant, born in Stockwell

Edward Alfred Macro, 15, an errand boy, born in Stockwell

William J. Macro, 10, born in Clapham (born 15 July 1900)

Daisy Macro, 8, born in Clapham

Walter Macro, 6, born in Clapham

Nellie Macro, 4, born in Clapham

Violet Macro, 4, born in Clapham

Winnie Macro, 2, born in Clapham

Elise Macro, 5 months, born in Clapham

A boarder, Bertha Bailey, 27, shared the 6-roomed dwelling.