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.