The Scottish War Memorials Project

MagsD · Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Posts: 46

William McIntyre died 20 March 1916. He and his brother Hugh were both wounded in September 1915. This news article shares extracts from letters sent from William and his brother Hugh to their father, Mr Alexander McIntyre.

Oakbank Soldiers Wounded
The recent heavy fighting on the western front in which the British Army so gloriously distinguished itself, naturally turned the thoughts of villagers to the lads who had enlisted from the village. Casualty lists in the morning ad evening papers were eagerly scanned, but no name of any of the locals appeared and it was generally believed that all had escaped when word reached Mr Alexander McIntyre that his two sons, Privates William and Hugh, had been wounded. The information came in a short letter from William, who stated that he had been shot in the stomach, and that while he lay in the ambulance wagon awaiting removal to hospital he saw his brother Hugh getting his wounds dressed on the field. Further information was anxiously waited on, and it came on Tuesday of this week, when a letter was received from Hugh saying he was lying in No. 7 General Hospital suffering from a wound in the ankle. In his letter he says, “ I will never forget Saturday 25th September. It was in the morning about half past five that we commenced our big advance against the German lines. It was awful to hear the yells of the wounded and dying Germans. We had penetrated their lines for about two miles when I was struck in the ankle and I consider myself very lucky to have got off so easy as it was a terrible affair. It is a long since I was in a bed so good as this. We get plenty of good food, and I hope to be all right again soon.”
William is 21 years of age and Hugh 19. In civil life both were employed by the Oakbank Oil Coy. And enlisted in the 8th Battalion Black Watch on 23rd August last year, William at East Calder and Hugh in Edinburgh. Their military training was accomplished at Aldershot, and they arrived with their regiment in France on 1st May last. William spent most of his time in the trenches, and was on trench duty for 35 days at one spell. Hugh for a time was on transport duty, and had only experienced life in the trenches for one month when he received his wound.
(Midlothian Advertiser 8 October 1915)

Note: Hugh's granddaughter told me, “ My Granddad's toes were blown off in the war.”
It is unknown if this was as a result of the above injury or if Hugh was injured in a later incident.

MagsD · Joined: 10 Mar 2012 Posts: 46

Gifford Robert

I noticed that SDGW stated:
Died date: 01/07/1917
Died how: Died
Theatre of War: Home
As the information gave the Theatre of War as Home, I searched www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk and found a death certifcate for a Robert Gifford who died on 1 July 1917. There is no death in the England and Wales Death Index for a Robert Gifford, age 23, died 1 July 1917.
Death certificate, GROS: 1917 061/00 0029, shows Robert Gifford, Private with the 3rd Black Watch, dying in the Military Hospital, Cromarty. His usual address is given as Nigg Camp, Nigg, where the Black Watch training camp was. Cause of death is given as “ Cerebro Spinal Meningitis, 2 days”. “Douglas Lawrence, L/Cpl 3rd Seaforths, attd R.A.M.C., Military Hospital Cromarty” was the informant and the death was registered “1917 July 2nd at Cromarty”.
Pte. Robert Gifford is buried in Kirknewton Cemetery, Grave 298, and has a CWGC headstone.
1901 census shows him living with his parents, James and Margaret, and siblings at Haugh Farm Cottage, Kirkliston West Lothian.

Tom Lang · Joined: 09 Jun 2011 Posts: 50 Location: USA

James Lockerbie was born on 20 Apr 1893 at East Calder, Kirknewton.

I cannot find any Memorial for him so I am placing his information here.

SNWM.
Surname LOCKERBIE
Firstname James
Service Number S/16587
Date Death 24/07/1916
Place of birth Kirknewton, Midlothian
Other 1st Bn.
SNWM roll THE QUEEN'S OWN CAMERON HIGHLANDERS
Rank L/Cpl
Theatre of death F & F

CWGC:
LOCKERBIE, J
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: 16587
Date of Death: 24/07/1916
Regiment/Service: Cameron Highlanders
1st Bn.
Grave Reference: I.C.7.
Cemetery: DAOURS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION

In the 1901 census, age 7, he was living at 54 Main Street, Kirknewton, with his aunt and uncle William and Margaret Corkle.

His mother Agnes Paden Knox or Lockerbie died on 27 Nov 1904, age 31, at Stoneyburn, Whitburn. James was age 10.

In the 1911 census, age 17, he was living with his father James 43, sister Agnes 14, as boarders with his aunt and uncle William and Margaret Corkle at 141 Tarbrax, Carnwath.

James 'attested' on 6 Jan 1915 at Hamilton, age 21.
He went to France with his Battalion on 4 May 1915.

On 16 May 1915, James was wounded by a gun shot wound to his arm.
He was shipped back to the UK on 6 Jun 1915.
He rejoined his Battalion on 2 Jul 1915.
On 20 Oct 1915 he was appointed L/Cpl (unpaid).
On 23 Apr 1916 he was wounded by a gun shot to the head and died of his wounds at Casualty Clearing Station No 34.

James is buried in DAOURS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION , Grave Ref I.C.7.
_________________
'Lest We Forget'
My grandfather Pte 37091 Robert Lang 14th Bn HLI, killed in action 24 Apr 1917 at Villers-Plouich, France.