Apr 6, 1891

Born to Angus and Mary (nee Cameron) MacGillivray at Antigonish Nova Scotia

Aug 2, 1915

Attested into the 64^th Battalion at Halifax Nova Scotia 

Ø      Number 469128

Ø      Next of kin given as Mary MacGillivray (mother) of Antigonish Nova Scotia

Ø      Previous occupation given as Time Keeper

Ø      Previous military experience given as 3 years in the18^th Battery

Ø      Religion given as Roman Catholic

Oct 1, 1915

Appointed to the Provisional Rank of Lance Corporal

Dec 1, 1915

Promoted to the Provisional Rank of Corporal

Feb 1, 1916

Promoted to the Provisional Rank of Sergeant

Mar 31, 1916

Embarked the SS Adriatic at Halifax Nova Scotia

Apr 9, 1916

Disembarked at Liverpool England and proceeded to Bramshott

Apr 21, 1916

Appointed to rank of Acting Sergeant without pay

May 12, 1916

Promoted to permanent rank of Corporal and retained the rank of A/Sgt

Jun 18, 1916

Appointed to rank of Acting Sergeant with pay

Jul 6, 1916

Transferred to the 40^th Reserve Battalion at Shorncliffe

Jul 13, 1916

Posted to the 21^st Battalion

Jul 14, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) at the Rouelles Camp, Havre France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion 

Reduced to rank of Pte on arrival in France

Aug 5, 1916

Left the CBD for the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion

Aug 8, 1916

Joined the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion at the Halifax Camp

Sep 17, 1916

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field and was assigned to “D” Company 

The Battalion had just been relieved from the fighting on the Somme where they had completed an attack on the German strong point in a Sugar Factory.  On relief, they moved into billets in the Brickfields at Albert where on parade the following day discovered that they had suffered over 400 casualties in the previous 2 days of fighting. 

Feb 5, 1917

Appointed to rank of Acting Lance Corporal without pay

Mar 12, 1917

Awarded the Military Medal per London Gazette #29981

Citation reads

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack on the German lines.   This NCO acted as 1st bayonet man of his bombing section and by his coolness and personal bravery, he enabled his squad to quickly mop up the German line, and was the means of saving the lives of many of hi comrades

AFW 3121

May 12, 1917

Promoted to rank of Corporal to replace Cpl John Packer 59768, who had been promoted

Jul 14, 1917

Appointed to rank of Acting Sergeant with pay to replace Sgt AA Trappitt 59995, who had been appointed Acting Company Sergeant Major

Aug 15, 1917

Promoted to rank of Sergeant to replace Sgt Howard 59484, who had been killed in action

Nov 12, 1917

Sgt MacGillivray was wounded during the heavy fighting at Passchendaele and admitted to the No 3 Australian CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with a shrapnel wound to the right buttock which became severely infected  

He was transferred the same day to via the No 21 Ambulance Train

Nov 13, 1917

Admitted to the No 1 South African General Hospital at Abbeville

Nov 21, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Carisbrook Castle

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) while in hospital

Nov 22, 1917

Admitted to the Graylingwell War Hospital at Chichester

Dec 12, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom

Dec 21, 1917

Discharged from hospital and TOS the 6^th Reserve Battalion

Apr 11, 1918

Posted to the 21^st Battalion 

Arrived at No 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) at Etaples France and TOS the 21^st Battalion

Apr 14, 1918

Left 2 CIBD for the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp)

Apr 16, 1918

Arrived at CC Rein C at Calonne Ricouart 

While at the CC Rein C, the Camp was moved to Aubin St Vaast

May 10, 1918

Left CC Rein C to join his unit

May 12, 1918

Joined the 21^st Battalion in the field 

The Battalion was in the front line trenches and he joined the Rear Detail at Bellacourt. 

May 15, 1918

He was moved from the Rear Detail up to the Front Line to join the main part of the Battalion

May 18, 1918

Sgt MacGillivray received a Bronze Medal on parade from the Commanding Officer for his efforts the previous September in the Falling Plate Rifle Competition

Aug 25, 1918

Posted to the EORD in England pending being Commissioned

Aug 27, 1918

TOS EORD in England

Aug 29, 1918

On Command to the 1^st Reserve Battalion pending admittance to the OTC (Officer Training Course)

Sep 11, 1918

On Command to the OTC at Bexhill

Nov 4, 1918

Commissioned to rank of Lieutenant and posted to the 6^th Reserve Battalion

Feb 25, 1919

Posted to the 21^st Battalion

Feb 26, 1919

Arrived in France and TOS the 21^st Battalion

Mar 1, 1919

Joined the 21^st Battalion at Ham-Sur-Sambre Belgium

Mar 30, 1919

The Battalion entrained at Auvelais Belgium for Havre to begin the journey home to Canada.  Lt MacGillivray was given the honour of carrying the Battalion’s Colours on that trip.  On arrival at Havre, he was detailed as the Battalion’s Orderly Officer

Apr 3, 1919

Embarked the Western Australia at Havre

Apr 4, 1919

Disembarked in England and proceeded to the Witley Camp 

TOS “P” Wing at Witley pending return to Canada

May 6, 1919

Several Officers and 115 Other Ranks of the 21^st Battalion participated in a parade of Dominion Troops through the streets of London winding up at Buckingham Palace where His Majesty the King presented many medals, including presentations to 8 Officers of the 21^st Battalion.  Lt MacGillivray again had the honour of carrying the Battalion’s Colours for this parade

May 14, 1919

Embarked the RMS Caronia at Liverpool

May 22, 1919

Disembarked at Halifax Nova Scotia and proceeded by train to Kingston Ontario

May 28, 1919

Discharged from the CEF at Kingston Ontario 

Proposed residence on discharge St Ninian St, Antigonish Nova Scotia.  A War Service Badge Class “A” was issued, but the number was not recorded in the file.  Most of the members of the Battalion were discharged on May 24, but Lt MacGillivray, MM was kept on for the extra 4 days to assist with some administrative duties.

Jun 20, 1921

British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Antigonish Nova Scotia

Sep 12, 1922

Married to Margaret Wilmot at St Ninian Cathedral, Antigonish Nova Scotia

Research by author Steve Nichol indicates that he continued his Military service in Nova Scotia and rose to the rank of Major

Jun 2, 1957

Died at Antigonish Nova Scotia