The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 1:49 pm Post subject:

Pte. T.D. KEIR, 12th A&S.H. 15-3-17.
Thomas Donaldson Keir – age 29– Private (5637) Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Thomas was a bill poster in Glasgow when he enlisted there in September 1914. He landed with the 12th Battalion, A&SH at Boulogne in September 1915 but they soon moved and by November 1915 they were in Salonica in northern Greece. A year later he became ill with a heart condition and he was evacuated home in January 1917. Thomas was discharged from the army and awarded a Silver War Badge (24380) but he died a month later at the home of his next of kin, William Chapman of Foulden Hill.
Born 1888 in Hutchesontown, Glasgow. Son of the late Barbara (Fairbairn) Keir (died 1890) and of the late Thomas Donaldson Keir (died 1895)
In 1891 Thomas senior and junior were being cared for by Margaret Jane Fairbairn. Margaret married William Chapman in 1898 in Whitsome, Berwickshire and in 1901 Thomas was living with them in Whitsome. Margaret died in 1910.
Died on 15 March 1917 and buried in Foulden Parish Churchyard. (CWG)

Pte. J. OVENS, N.Z.P.B. 29-9-16.
John Ovens – age 29 – Private (10251) New Zealand Pioneer Battalion.
John served his apprenticeship as a engineer before he emigrated to New Zealand in March 1906. He was an engine driver and was managing a sheep farm in the Waipatiki Bay area of the North Island when he enlisted in December 1915. He sailed from Wellington in April 1916 bound for Egypt and then France where he was transferred to the Pioneer Battalion in July. John was killed two months later.
Born 1886 in Foulden. Son of John and Martha (Middlemiss) Ovens of The Gardens, Foulden. Husband of Eva (Douglas) Ovens of Oporai, Waipatiki Bay and of Dannevirke, Hawkes Bay who he married in 1911 in Napier.
Killed in Action on 29 September 1916 and buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, France.
Also named on the Dannevirke War Memorial.

Pte. T.J. PURVES, 1/4th K.O.S.B. 14-7-15.
Note: on the 1901 census and on the family gravestone he is named as James.
Thomas James Purves – age 19 – Private (7168) 1/4th (Border) Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Thomas landed with his battalion at Gallipoli in June 1915 but he was fatally wounded a month later during the battle at Achi Baba Nullah.
Born 1896 in Langton, Berwickshire. Son of the late Janet (Utterson) Purves (died 1900) and of Thomas Purves of Ladykirk Shiels, of Milne Graden West Mains and of Ayton Law, Ayton, Berwickshire.
Died of Wounds on 14 July 1915 and named on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 2:00 pm Post subject:

Lieut. J.S.G. REID, D.S.C. R.N.R. 4-6-19.
John Stewart Gilchrist Reid, Distinguished Service Cross – age 33 – Lieutenant, H.M. Submarine L.55. Royal Naval Reserve.
John was educated at Berwick Grammar School and at the Royal High School in Edinburgh and he became a midshipman in the Naval Reserve in September 1906. He obtained his Second Mate Certificate in the Merchant Navy in 1907 and his Masters in 1913 and between these two dates he served in the South Pacific. He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant in the Reserve in August 1913 and at the outbreak of war he served as boarding officer on the cruiser HMS Roxburgh. He was promoted to Lieutenant in June 1915. He transferred to the submarine service in January 1915 and was awarded the DSC for his actions during 1918. John joined the “L.55” less than a month before she was sunk in the Baltic in June 1919 by Bolshevik naval forces while serving as part of the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. She was salvaged by the Soviets in 1928 and the remains of the crew were returned to the British.
Born 1887 in Foulden. Son of the Rev. John Reid and of Martha Craig (Gilchrist) Reid of Foulden Manse. Husband of Irene Helen (Saxton-White) Reid of Shirley, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne and of 50 Morpeth Mansions, London who he married in June 1916 in Jesmond.
Killed in Action on 4 June 1919 and buried in Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Hampshire.
Also named on Berwick Grammar School memorial and on the Royal High School memorial.

and his brother

Capt. W.L. REID, 2nd DORSETS 14-4-15.
William Leonard Reid – age 24 – Captain, 2nd Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment.
William was educated at St. Mary's in Melrose and at Celle, Hanover in Germany before attending the Royal Military College at Sandhurst from where he was commissioned in November 1909. He joined the 2nd Dorsets in India in January 1910 and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1912. He then obtained the position of Station Staff Officer and Cantonment Magistrate at the army camp at Deolali, Bombay but resigned to rejoin his regiment in August 1914 and moved with them to Mesopotamia in November 1914. He was attached to the Indian Government Office but returned to his battalion to help deal with Turkish forces near Basra. William was fatally wounded at Shaiba.
Born 1889 in Foulden. Son of the Rev. John Reid and of Martha Craig (Gilchrist) Reid of Foulden Manse.
Died of Wounds on 15 April 1915 and buried in Basra War Cemetery. Iraq.
Also named on the St. Mary's School memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2021 2:04 pm Post subject:

Pte. P. SPENCE, 2nd K.O.S.B. 3-9-16.
Peter Spence – age 25 – Private (23530) 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
Peter worked alongside his father at West Foulden Mains where Robert had been the Farm Steward for over twenty years. He enlisted under the Derby Scheme and went to France in August 1916 but he was killed a month later on the Somme.
Born 1890 in Bunkle & Preston, Berwickshire. Son of Robert and Mary (Jeffrey) Spence of West Foulden Mains.
Killed in Action on 3 September 1916 and buried in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, France.
His brother Robert Spence, Private (41197) 9th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was killed on 10 February 1917 and is named on the Chirnside Parish War Memorial.

L/Cpl. P. THOMSON, 7/8th K.O.S.B. 23-7-18.
Peter Thomson – age 21 – Lance Corporal (29640) 7th/8th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Peter of West Foulden was a gamekeeper at Edington Hill, Chirnside when he enlisted. He was initially posted to the 1st KOSB in France and then to the 6th Battalion before he joined the 7th/8th. He suffered from a gas attack in March 1918.
Born 1896 in Tweedmouth, Berwick-on-Tweed. Son of Margaret Thomson.
Grandson of James Thomson of Lamberton, Berwick-on-Tweed.
Killed in Action on 23 July 1918 and buried in Vauxbuin French National Cemetery, France.
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Ken