Source: November 1917 casualty.
Family Search: When Private John McRae was born on 27 July 1887, in Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom, his father, John Mcrae, was 20 and his mother, Margaret Colquehoun, was 23. He had at least 1 son with Margaret Rennie. He lived in Bonhill, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom for about 10 years. He registered for military service in 1915. In 1915, at the age of 28, his occupation is listed as carriage mounter in Oshawa, Ontario, Ontario, Canada. He died on 17 November 1917, in Whitby, Ontario, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 30, and was buried in Oshawa Union Cemetery, Oshawa, Ontario, Ontario, Canada.
Russian Cross of St. George, 4th Class per London Gazette. No. 30476. Page 829. 14/1/18.
OSHAWA MAN HONORED
Pte. John McRae, 116th Batt., Won Russian Decoration
The Russian Cross of St. George presented by his Excellency the Govenor-General on Wednesday last was awarded to the late Pte. John McRae, of the 116th Ontario County Battalion. Pte. McRae died in Whitby Hospital, so the medal was presented to his wife, Mrs. Margaret McRae, of 186 Church street, Oshawa. He was not the same Pte. John McRae, the native of Levis, who went oversreas with the 75th Battalion, as reported on Wednesday.
Toronto Evening Telegram. May 11, 1918.
| Reg number | 746048 |
| Name | McRae, John |
| Rank | Lance Corporal |
| Year of Birth | 3/1/1905 |
| Date of Death | 11/17/1917 |
| Cemetery | |
| Cemetery location | |
| Country of birth | Scotland |
| Home Country | Canada |
| City born | Dunbarton, ON |
| Address | Oshawa, ON |
| Enlistment Date | 10/4/1915 |
| Drafted? | |
| Enlistment place | Oshawa |
| Origin Unit | 116th Battalion |
| Pre war Unit | 9th Argyle and Sutherland |
| Final Bn | 18th |
| Ship | SS Olympic |
| Date in England | 7/31/1916 |
| Date in France | |
| Date w 116 | 10/4/1915 |
| Left 116th | 10/5/1917 |
| Married | yes |
| Occupation | carriage mounter |
| Wounded date | 4/15/1917 |
| Wound type/Death particuolars | GSW Head (Fractured skull), scabies |
| KIA | |
| DOW | |
| Died other | |
| Missing/Presumed Dead | |
| Wounded | yes |
| Sick | yes |
| PTSD | |
| Medals | Cross of St George (Russia) Dec 19, 1917 |
| Vimy | |
| Vimy area | |
| Raid | |
| Hill 70 | |
| Pass | |
| Amiens | |
| Parvillers | |
| Boiry | |
| Canal | |
| Other | |
| Unit History | 116th to 18th |
| Other details | died of epileptic fit for five hours, 2 small children John Mary |
| Field Punishment | |
| FP Details | |
| Gravestone | |
| Underage | |
| Medically Unit | |
| Deserter | |
| Undesirable | |
| Casualty Description |
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 