The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

mikky · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 171

This is Pte 1692 Robert McFarlane Campbell 2nd Black Watch KIA 25/3/1915. He is listed on Aberfeldy Memorial.Breadalbane Terrace Aberfeldy.
Directly below him is another Pte Robert Campbell. On the Breadalbane Academy Memorial they are both listed. The other Robert as living at Factory buildings, now known as Chapel St.
I have been unable to find Which Black Watch man is the other Robert Campbell These are the likely candidates.

Thanks to Geoff's Engine

Can anyone help find the right Robert Campbell

Cheers Mike

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Mike

It may be worth checking out the man below further. He is the only one of those with a link to Perthshire. He was born at Banchory but enlisted at Perth.
1692 was born at Aberfeldy and enlisted at Pitlochry

Name: CAMPBELL, ROBERT
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Age: 28
Date of Death: 25/09/1915
Service No: S/7805
Additional information: Husband of Mrs. Roberts (formerly Campbell), of 2, Anchor Lane, Johnshaven, Kincardineshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 78 to 83.
Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

mikky · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 171

Thanks Jim
He is the one I keep coming back to but have yet to make the link to Aberfeldy. As you say 1692 born Aberfeldy .
I think it's a case of back to Perth and trawl through People's Jounal and hope he's mentioned.
Thanks for your help
Mike

mikky · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 171

1692 Pte Robert McFarlane Campbell Enlisted in the 2nd Black Watch – post March 1909 So will not be present in 1911 Census in Aberfeldy

From People's Journal. This is definitely Pte 1692 Robert McFarlane Campbell

From the Aberfeldy War Memorial

From the Breadalbane Academy Memorial

From the 1911 Census
Duncan McDougall Head (39) Factory Building Aberfeldy Maltsman Labourer Distillery Born Lanark
Elizabeth (wife) (34) Born Fortingall Perthshire
Robert Campbell (Stepson) (12) (School) Born Fortingall Perthshire
Mary McDougall (Daughter) (6) (School) Born Aberfeldy
Peter McDougall (Son) (4) Born Aberfeldy
Isabella McDougall (Daughter) (2) Born Aberfeldy
Duncan McDougall (Son) (1) Born Aberfeldy

There are 2 Robert Campbells' Am no nearer identifying him in Black Watch or CWGC. Cannot find a birth cert for Robert Campbell born Fortingall around 1899 (if he was 12 in 1911)

Any thoughts welcome

Cheers Mike

ADP · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 467 Location: Edinburgh

dhubthaigh · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 8:05 pm Post subject:

Mike,

Going on the information posted. Do you think he served as Robert McDougall but was still known locally as Robert Campbell. So.....

Surname McDOUGALL
Firstname Robert
Service Number S/43186
Date Death 23/08/1917
Decoration
Place of birth Kinloch Rannoch Perthshire
Other 9th Bn.
SNWM roll THE BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
Rank Pte
Theatre of death F.& F.

Name: McDOUGALL
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Date of Death: 23/08/1917
Service No: S/43186
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. A. 2.
Cemetery: WHITE HOUSE CEMETERY, ST. JEAN-LES-YPRES

Robert McDougall is not listed on the Rannoch or Fortingall memorials.

mikky · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 171

Thanks ADP, it's a possible.

dhubthaigh, that has occurred to me, and is a real possibility. I'm not sure the birth dates work out. It is possible he was known as Campbell, or McDougall, and both names appear on Memorial. I will check the birth years.

Cheers Mike

dhubthaigh · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 8:41 pm Post subject:

This is the Robert McDougall listed on memorial so definitely different

THE PEOPLE'S JOURNAL: 30.10.1915
ABERFELDY SOLDIER KILLED

Intimation has been received by his relatives in Aberfeldy that Private Robert M'Dougall, C Company, 9th Black Watch, was killed in action in France. Private M'Dougall was a son of the late Mr Peter M'Dougall, Chapel Street, Aberfeldy, and joined the Black Watch in September, 1914. He was about 30 years of age, and previous to joining the Colours was employed as a surfaceman on the Highland Railway at Blair Atholl.

mikky · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 171

Robert McDougall People's Journal 30/10/1915 " he was about 30 years of age "

He was actually born 11/10/1881( from birth cert )

According to 1911 census , Factory buildings Robert Campbell was 12 years old, ie born 1899

It will all make sense one day.

Cheers Mike

dhubthaigh · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 8:57 pm Post subject:

The Robert McDougall I mentioned previously enlisted at Blair Atholl. There IS a Robert McDougall listed at Blair Atholl, so that doesn't look too likely as I'd thought.

Surname McDOUGALL
Firstname Robert
Service Number S/43186
Date Death 23/08/1917
Decoration
Place of birth Kinloch Rannoch Perthshire
Other 9th Bn.
SNWM roll THE BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)
Rank Pte
Theatre of death F.& F.

Name: McDOUGALL
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Date of Death: 23/08/1917
Service No: S/43186
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. A. 2.
Cemetery: WHITE HOUSE CEMETERY

THE PEOPLE'S JOURNAL: 15.09.1917
CALVINE

Private Robert MacDougall, Black Watch, son of Mrs MacDougall, Calvine, has been killed. Prior to enlisting he was a postman.

ADP · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 467 Location: Edinburgh

The 1902 marriage in Kinloch Rannoch between Duncan MacDougall and Elizabeth Dempster (the unmarried mother named on Robert's 1898 birth certificate; father = Neil Campbell) almost certainly leads to Robert in the family group in the 1911 census page being the same one as on the 1898 birth certificate.

ADP

mikky · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 171

mikky · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 171

So Neil Campbell (post boy ) fathers Robert Campbell to Lizzie Dempster. He (Robert) then moves to Aberfeldy at some point, as stepson to Duncan McDougall at Factory buildings.

I can't find a Kinloch Rannoch Black Watch Robert Campbell either though?

Is that ok so far, if I haven't quite got this, feel free to correct me.

Cheers Mike

mikky · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 171

Nothing new to report but, I was talking to a lady in the Archives Dept at Bells. I mentioned the 2 Robert Campbells, and that it was a bit of a mystery. She also said this, which I thought made sense. We know this of the War Memorial " The memorial was designed by Mr W. Erskine Thomson, Lic., R.I.B.A.’ architect, Perth, and the contractors for the work were Messrs Ramage & Cooper, builders, Perth. "

If we could prove the School Memorial was made by a different firm, then that would suggest there were 2 Robert Campbells, not 2 mistakes. Does anyone have any information on the School Memorial. When I get a minute, I will nip up to the School, and see if there are any clues.

Cheers Mike

mikky · Joined: 07 Jan 2009 Posts: 171

I now know there are definitely two Robert Campbells. The first and positively identified is Private 1692 Robert Campbell of the 2nd Battalion The Black Watch, killed in action 25/3/1915. Born 17/9/1889 Chapel Street Aberfeldy, illegitimate son of Margaret Campbell.

The other is definitely Robert Campbell born 20/7/1898 at Aulich Cottage Kinloch Rannoch. Illegitimate son of Elizabeth Dempster Father named on birth cert as Neil Campbell post boy. I have as yet been unable to identify this man in any of the usual Military databases. Did he die at all? I can't find a death certificate, though there is one possible

Edit- I am being thick, and hadn't read this for a while. I think we have him don't we? Thanks ADP

Mike