David Andrew Gregor

Private David Gregor

23rd Battalion, AIF

Service Number: 6757

Born: 1899, New Zealand

Died: 7 November 1917, Passchendaele, Belgium

David Andrew Gregor was born in Havelock New Zealand in 1899, the son of Andrew and Amy Gregor. Gregor and his father moved to Australia in about 1910 and Gregor attended Parramatta Public School. In about 1914, the family purchased a 100 acre orchard at Cranebrook. When Gregor enlisted, he gave his occupation as a farm hand. His brother Clunie James Gregor had already enlisted the previous year in New Zealand.

Gregor enlisted on 3 June 1916. Being under 19, his father grudgingly gave permission, for him to serve overseas, stating ‘I hereby give my consent to my son David joining the military forces although personally I think he is too young to go to the front yet’. His enlistment papers also indicate his mother was in New Zealand. On 16 June 1916, Gregor was sent to Cootamundra for training. He was allocated to the 1st Battalion, before being transferred to the 3rd Battalion. From 4 July to 18 August, Gregor had a bout of sickness. On 22 August, he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion based at Liverpool and on 9 October, he was allocated to the 8th Battalion.

On 17 November 1916, Gregor left Australia aboard HMAT Port Napier and disembarked at Devonport, England on 29 January 1917. The following day he was admitted to Devonport Military Hospital with mumps and was discharged on 7 February. On 11 February, Gregor marched into the 2nd Training Battalion AIF at Durrington and was assigned to No 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs.

On 20 August, Gregor proceeded overseas to France and was taken on strength by the 23rd Battalion on 1 September 1917. On 7 November 1917, Gregor was killed in action during the Second Battle of Passchendaele, Belgium. By 1925, Andrew Gregor had left the district. He had arranged for both of his sons to be remembered on the Castlereagh War memorial in Smith Park.

Memorial Details:

  • Menin Road South Military Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium
  • War Memorial, Smith Park, Castlereagh

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