Son of the late John and Agnes McGilvray. Brother of Jeanie, Donald, Alexander, John and Margaret.
In 1915 he had a brother in training at Sutton Valley, Wiltshire, another brother engaged on a British Transport and a third brother traveling home from Sumatra to enlist. One of his sisters lived 42 Wellington Street, Greenock.
Wounded 12th July 1915. Treated in 1st Scottish General Hospital.