The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

baird · Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 3 Location: east kilbride

Private 10576 Thomas Baird, 2nd. Bat. Seaforth Highlanders was born February 11th. 1890 at 119 King Street, Rutherglen the son of William Baird and Janet Wilson Reid. Enlisted in the Militia at Hamilton, November 1907 , aged 17 years and 9 months, and joined 3rd. Batt. Highland Light Infantry.
Following 49 days training transferred to the Regular Army , 2nd Batt Seaforth Highlanders.
Based at Edinburgh Castle until 1909 when Battalion moved to Fort George until 1912.
In 1912 Battalion moved to Shorncliffe until the outbreak of WW1.
Landed in France August 23rd. 1914 with the 10th. Brigade, 4th. Division and went into the line at Le Cateau.
The Battalion took part in the 1914 Christmas Truce, losing a football match with the Germans 3-2.
During April and May 1915 the Battalion suffered over 1000 casualties around Ypres and Saint Julien.
Private Baird was killed in the latter stages of the Battle of the Somme outside Lesbeoufs on the 14th. October 1916 during a night attack on a German strongpoint called Dewdrop Trench which cost the Battalion 24 lives of whom only 5 have known graves.
When I visited his grave at Serre Road #2 I was intrigued as to why his grave was in the last plot to be completed in the Cemetery. The CWGC informed me that his body had been interred there in 1932. His name still appears on the Thiepval memorial as having no known grave.
Thomas Baird had 3 brothers who also served during WW1 and survived.
Robert Baird who served in the 2nd. Bat. KOSB; Alexander Baird who served with the Lanarkshire Yeomanry as a Musketry Instructor at Gailes Camp in Ayshire and Andrew Baird who served in the Royal Navy including service as a stoker on K Class Submarines.
Sources; National Archives Militia Records/ War Diary of 2nd Batt. Seaforth Highlanders/CWGC/National Archives WW1 Medal Cards/ National Archives Royal Naval Records.

Baird Ferguson[img][/img]
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Baird
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Baird

DerekR · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:35 am Post subject:

It has always astounded me why bodies were concentrated at Serre no.2 from upteen miles away.
Lesbeoufs is miles from Serre and there are far closer cemetries.
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

baird · Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 3 Location: east kilbride

Hello Derek, of the 24 men killed on the 14th. October 1916 from the 2nd. Seaforths the 5 who do have a grave, are located as follows;

2nd. Lieut. R.P. Agar is in the Guards Cemetery at Lesbeoufs, as is Corporal F Hughes M.M.

Private Thomas Baird and Private Robert Rendall are both in Serre Road #2 although in different plots..

Corporal John Campbell is in Combles Cemetery.

I was given a map reference for the previous location of Pte Bairds' body which was just outside Lesbeoufs. However The CWGC could not tell me if it was a Cemetery location or if his body had just been found. The fact that his name is on the Thiepval Memorial leads me to believe that his body was discovered in that location in 1932.
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Baird

DerekR · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:51 pm Post subject:

Baird,

Do you still have a note of that original grave location?
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

baird · Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 3 Location: east kilbride

I contacted the CWGC and they informed me that Private Baird was only interred at Serre in 1932. His body previously being 'buried' outside Lesbeoufs at Map Ref. 57c.T4.b.8.3.
This location is approximately 50 yards from the line of the Seaforth Trench and 250 from the Gun Pit location.
As a point of interest, the Rainy/Dewdrop/Gun Pit position was eventually taken by the 1st. Middlesex Regiment on the 28th. October with the loss of 208 casualties.

Baird
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Baird

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