Private John McAllister
| Date of Birth | Feb 1875 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 41 |
| Date of Death | 25 December 1916 |
| Service Number | 3/8021 |
| Military Service | 13th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders |
| Merton Address | |
| Local Memorial | Morden Cemetery |
Additional Information
John McAllister was born in Ayrshire, Scotland in February 1875 and spent his early years growing up in this region.
He married Elizabeth Nee Morrison on 12th May 1895 in Bothwell Scotland, and the couple went on to have six children.
On 6th May 1905 John aged 30 departed from Glasgow on the Ship Sicilian which arrived in Quebec on 17th May 1905.
Elizabeth and 3 children: Samuel 11, Edward 5 and Allister 11 months who were all born in Scotland can be traced leaving England three years later, on 27th June 1908. They travelled on the ship Carthaginian which left from Liverpool and arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia on 8th July 1908.
John and his wife Elizabeth settled in Nova Scotia and had two more children: Ronald born in 1910 and Norman in 1911. While in Nova Scotia John worked as a miner.
In the Canadian Census in 1911, John and Elizabeth and their five children were living at 89 Fraser Avenue, Cape Breton, North Victoria, Nova Scotia. John now 36 and eldest son Samuel aged 15 were both working 60 hours per week as miners.
By 1913 the family had relocated and were living at 184 Johnson Street, Pittston, Pennsylvania. John’s occupation was again listed at a miner.
With the outbreak of 1st WW John appears to have travelled back to England, leaving his 5 children and pregnant wife to enlist with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. He enlisted in Liverpool on 5th November and joined the 13th Battalion with the service number 3/8021.
His description on enlistment was given as: 5ft 7in tall, Weight 133 lbs, Chest 37, with grey eyes and light brown hair. His religion was Presbyterian and his trade listed as a miner.
After enlisting John spent the first few weeks of his training under canvas in inclement weather. His unit then moved for further training at White City in January 1915. It was here that John developed lung problems which he stated were caused by the earlier exposure to the weather, with no availability for changing his clothing.
John’s wife Elizabeth, back in Pennsylvania gave birth to their sixth child on 16th March 1915. The child was named Mary.
By August 1915 it was confirmed that John was suffering from Tuberculosis of both lungs and was declared medically unfit for war service. He was discharged on 17th January 1916 after serving a total of 1 year and 74 days.
It is not known if John ever travelled back to Pennsylvania. His address in August 1916 was listed as The Downs Sanatorium, Sutton and this is where he died on 25th December 1916 aged 41. He was buried at Morden cemetery; Garth Road and his name also appears on a stone cross memorial in the churchyard.
Upon John’s death his wife Elizabeth was living at 6 Park Herst Street, North-side, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA with her six children.