Sep 26, 1875

Born in County Donegal, Ireland to James and Ann (nee McConnell) McCracken

May 25, 1883

Embarked the SS Parisian in Londonderry, Ireland with his parents and 8 siblings

Jun 3, 1883

Disembarked in Quebec City, Quebec and proceeded to Ottawa, Ontario

Apr 16, 1902

Attested into the 3^rd Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles in Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Number 383

Ø  Next of kin given as James McCracken, father, 139 Bank St., Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Tailor

Ø  Previous military experience given as 3^rd Royal Canadian Regiment

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

Jul 29, 1902

After serving in South Africa, Private McCracken was discharged by reason of “Disbandment of the Forces”

Jul 22, 1903

Married to Augusta Delanah Gertrude Olmsted in Ottawa, Ontario

Jul 21, 1908

Shown on the payroll of the Governor General’s Foot Guards in “G” Company with the rank of Sergeant at the Quebec Camp

Jan 23, 1909

Shown as a Duty NCO in the Parliament of Canada Senate Chambers in Ottawa, Ontario with the rank of Colour Sergeant

Jun 23, 1914

Shown on the payroll of the 59^th Stormont & Glengarry Regiment with the rank of Colour Sergeant as a member of “A” Company at the Petawawa, Ontario Camp

Nov 4, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59702 (temporary number 485)

Ø  Next of kin given as Gertrude McCracken, wife, York St., Cornwall, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Civil Servant Clerk

Ø  Previous military experience given as 1 year in 59^th Stormont & Glengarry Regiment, 1 year in the 3^rd Canadian Mounted Rifles with service in South Africa, 7 years in the 43^rd Battalion Governor General’s Foot Guards, and 3 years in the Canadian Army Service Corps.

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to “E” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “C” Company

Appointed to the provisional rank of Company Sergeant Major

The 21^st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Jun 26, 1915

While playing a Lacrosse game against the 20^th Battalion in Folkestone, Alexander McCracken twisted his left ankle and was admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe.  On admission the ankle was swollen and tender

Jul 1, 1915

Confirmed in the rank of Warrant Officer II and the appointment of Company Sergeant Major of “C” Company

Jul 2, 1915

Transferred to the Monks Horton Convalescent Hospital

Jul 6, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Feb 14, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Bronchitis

Feb 16, 1916

Placed in the Division Rest Station

Feb 25, 1916

Transferred to the North Midland Casualty Clearing Station and the diagnosis was changed to read Influenza and Bronchitis

Mar 3, 1916

Transferred to the No. 12 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station)

Mar 4, 1916

Transferred via the No. 22 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 3 Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne, France and the diagnosis was changed to read Gastritis, then to Hyperchlohydria (excess stomach acid)

Mar 24, 1916

Discharged to the Marlborough Convalescent Camp in Boulogne

Mar 30, 1916

Transferred to the No. 1 Convalescent Depot in Boulogne

Apr 2, 1916

Discharged to the Boulogne Base Details for duty

Apr 5, 1916

Severely reprimanded for being drunk in town

Apr 17, 1916

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) in Seaford on being classified PB (Permanent Base) meaning he was not fit for front line duty

Apr 20, 1916

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

May 4, 1916

Embarked the SS Missanabie in Liverpool

May 14, 1916

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario where he was admitted to the Elmhurst Military Hospital

Jun 5, 1916

Transferred to the Fleming Convalescent Home in Ottawa, Ontario

Dec 3, 1916

Discharged from the CEF

Ø  Rank on discharge Company Sergeant Major

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 214 Sunnyside Ave., Ottawa, Ontario

Nov 22, 1917

Attested into the CEF in Ottawa, Ontario for the purposes of receiving medical care

Ø  Number 59702

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Gertrude McCracken, wife, 340 Somerset St. E., Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Civil Servant

Ø  Previous military experience given as 23 years in the Canadian Militia and 26 months in the 21^st Battalion CEF and was discharged by reason of Debility

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

The attestation took place to allow him to be on the payroll while an out patient of the Fleming Convalescent Home in Ottawa

Feb 7, 1918

Medical Board in Ottawa notes

Ø  Patient suffers from stomach pain, mostly in mornings before eating

Ø  Digestion is fairly good, but must avoid fatty and starchy food

Ø  He is frequently constipated

Ø  Suffers from Hyperchlorhydria (excess stomach acid)

Ø  His disability is not due to service

Ø  Board recommends he be discharged from service without compensation

Feb 20, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Company Sergeant Major

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 340 Somerset St. E., Ottawa, Ontario

May 9, 1918

Attested as an Officer in the 3^rd Detachment of the Canadian Garrison Regiment, CEF in Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Rank on enlisting Lieutenant

Ø  Next of kin given as Gertrude McCracken, wife, 25 Wendover Ave., Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Civil Servant

Ø  Previous military experience given as 29 years in the Canadian Militia

Ø  Presently serving in the 59^th Stormont & Glengarry Regiment

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

There is no entry in the service file to show his return to England with the rank of Lieutenant, however there is an entry on his discharge certificate that he served in Southampton in 1918.  In addition, there is a pay advance recorded in Aldershot for July 15, 1918

Aug 22, 1918

Embarked the SS Aquitania in Liverpool, England

Aug 28, 1918

Disembarked in New York City, New York, USA and proceeded to Ottawa, Ontario

Jan 9, 1919

Taken On Strength No. 3 Battalion, Canadian Garrison Regiment in Ottawa

Jul 31, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Lieutenant

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 338 Somerset St. E., Ottawa, Ontario

He returned to the Active Militia in Ottawa

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 340 Somerset St. E., Ottawa, Ontario

In 1938, Alex McCracken served on the executive of the Ottawa Club of the 21^st Battalion Association

Nov 6, 1951

Alexander McCracken died suddenly at Trafalgar House, 29 Cartier St., Ottawa, Ontario and was buried in the Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa.  The obituary printed in the Ottawa newspaper simply says “died suddenly”, however, the Beechwood Cemetery Register lists the cause of death as “Drowning”.