In Newcastle upon Tyne (All Saints) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:

Alan Macpherson
2nd Writer RN, M/15860 (C.H.)
H.M.S. Diligence
17th February 1919 age 26

He lived and died for others

Colin Boyd has provided the following:

Alan was born on 31st August 1892 in Newcastle upon Tyne to Lachlan MacPherson, an electrician and his wife Mary.

By 1901 he was living with his parents, one sister and one brother at 38, Copland Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne.

At the time of the 1911 Census the family were living at 1, Wolseley Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne. Lachlan had Anglicised his name to John and was working as a machinist in an electrical factory. Alan was working as a traveller for a wholesale provision merchant.

Alan enlisted in the Royal Navy as a “Hostilities Only” rating on 12th October 1915. He was described as being 5 feet 8¼ inches tall with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion.

He was promoted to 2nd Writer in October 1917 and qualified as a coder in January 1918.

Alan died on 17th February 1919 in the Royal Naval Hospital at South Queensferry from the effects of Influenza and Pneumonia.

Alan Macpherson is remembered at Newcastle on NUT235 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.