Wilfred Leo McGregor

Sergeant Wilfred McGregor

Life Before the War

Wilfred Leo McGregor was born in Arnprior, Ontario on the 12th of February, 1891. His parents were Gerald Joseph McGregor and Ellen Jane O'Brien. As a child of the early 1900s, he played games like stickball, tag, and hide-and-seek. When he enlisted on the 14th of March, 1916 in Blairmore, Alberta, he was 25, single, and working as a Trainman for the Canadian Pacific Railroad. This job may have been the reason why he enlisted in Alberta instead of the Ottawa Valley.

Family

Wilfred had a sister, Clara, and a brother, John. He and his family were Roman Catholic. They must have frequently played outside and perhaps watched the trains pass right by their house. Later, Clara moved to Fort William.

Life During the War

On the 31st of October, 1916, Wilfred departed Halifax aboard the Empress of Britain, arriving in England nearly two weeks later, on the 11th of November. He was recruited into the 49th Battalion and promoted to Sergeant during the overseas voyage.

He arrived in France on the 13th of January, 1917. He was killed by machine-gun fire while leading his platoon during the battle of Canal du Nord. This battle was part of the 100 day offensive. The attack occurred south of Tilloy, France on the 30th of September, 1918.

His body is buried in the Canadian cemetery at Tilloy-Lez Cambrai, France. He was awarded the Military Medal after his death on the 13th of November, 1918.