The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

paul Nixon · Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 22 Location: India

There are a number of Scots related plaques in this Victorian church in the heart of Bangalore. This one though intrigued me. It reads:

"This tablet has been erected by the officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the 2nd Battalion, The Black Watch and 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, in memory of their comrades who lost their lives in the railway accident at Yemaras on the 13th August 1917 whilst proceeding on active service."

The names of four Black Watch men and five Seaforth Highlanders are then noted underneath.

I took a photo using the poor camera on my phone but it hasn't reproduced well enough to re-publish it here. I will make a return visit in the daytime at some point.

I am puzzled though, where Yemaras is. A search across the major search engines reveals nothing intelligible. The soldiers who lost their lives are buried in one of the cantonment cemeteries at Secunderabad which suggests to me that Yemaras may be in Andhra Pradesh rather than Karnataka but I'd be interested to hear from anybody who can shed further light on this. Presumably the war diaries of the relevant battalions mention the incident.
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Remembering the men and women of Chailey, Sussex, England

www.chailey1914-1918.net

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

Halleluia

Paul

I have been searching for a long time for details of the rail accident on that day which claimed the life of a local man, Edward Adam Souter. It is not documented in the War Diary of the Black Watch.

EDWARD ADAM SOUTER
Private
S/19755
2nd Bn., Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
died Monday, 13th August 1917. Age 21

Adam's battalion had been in Mesopotamia ( now Iraq), in the 7th Indian (Meerut) Division, since arriving at the port of Basra in December 1915. During April 1917 they were in action against the Turks at Istabulat and later occupied Samarra.

I am aware that during the summer the battalion were stationed at Samarra and that a number of the personnel, including Adam, were given a month's leave in India. While in India he was involved in a railway accident in which Adam and three of his comrades died.

S/7305 Cpl John Bannerman, age 25
S/19753 Pte Alexander Ritchie, age 21
S/20012 Pte David Blaik, age 22

They were buried at Trimulgherry Cantonment Cemetery. This cemetery became unmaintainable for CWGC after 1947 and their names were added to the Madras Memorial. Ironically, in civilian life Adam Souter was a clerk with The Great North of Scotland Railway Coy.

I would appreciate a good quality image when you do find time to go back to the church.
_________________
Jim

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

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

paul Nixon · Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 22 Location: India

Jas

As you say, Halleluia, and thanks for the additional information.

If I get the chance this weekend, I'll pop up to the church again and try and get some decent photos. In the meantime I've posted a couple of messages on the India Mike forum asking a) for volunteers to take photos for me in the cant cemetery at Trimulgherry and b) asking if anybody knows where Yemaras is. I'll keep you posted.

I also found your post on this topic on the GWF and it's good to see that you obtained grave references for these men. That should help locate them more easily. I know Hyderabad quite well and in fact I did visit some old cemeteries there a few years ago. They were very unkempt and very overgrown.

Concerning the accident itself, maybe the Seaforth's diary documents the event. Have you checked that avenue?

Best wishes

Paul
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Remembering the men and women of Chailey, Sussex, England

www.chailey1914-1918.net

paul Nixon · Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 22 Location: India

Jas

Further to my last post, I have had a response from the India Mike forum as follows:

"One Yermaras is near Raichur very close to Andhra Pradesh border.Raichur is 4 hours drive by bus from Hyderabad.You can find Yermarus after crossing Krishna River bridge which natural boarer between A.P and Karnataka.If you r going by train from Hyderabad, Yermaras station comes after Krishna station."

Googling on Yermaras there are a number of interesting pieces including this:

"Yermaras is a small town in Raichur District, Karnataka. This town is on State Highway 13 between Raichur and Devasugur and is around 7 km north of Raichur. Venkatapur, Edlapur, Mudumala (in Andhra Pradesh) and Rajalbanda are among the surrounding places.

Bellary Airport is the closest airport. Yermaras Railway Station is on the Raichur-Wadi line. Nearest major railhead is Raichur Railway Station."

and this:

"Served by the South Central Railways, Yermaras Railway Station is on the railway line connecting Yadgir and Raichur. Passenger trains connecting Raichur with Solapur and Bijapur are the main train connections. Raichur Railway Station is 9 km to the south of Yermaras. Chiksugar Railway Station is about 7 km from here.

Hyderabad Airport is the nearest airport."

Here is a map of the district, the railway line and Raichur are clearly visible.

A couple of further thoughts, the India collection at the British Library may have some information about this event. Also the British Newspaper Library at Colindale might hold a local Indian paper from that time which reported the event.
_________________
Remembering the men and women of Chailey, Sussex, England

www.chailey1914-1918.net

paul Nixon · Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 22 Location: India

_________________
Remembering the men and women of Chailey, Sussex, England

www.chailey1914-1918.net

paul Nixon · Joined: 08 Jan 2007 Posts: 22 Location: India

A beautifully warm and sunny afternoon in Bangalore today. The plaque is immediately on the wall to your right as soon as you enter the church. Unfortunately the interior is quite dark so artificial light, (bouncing off the bronze), is needed.

For some reason, the two clocks in this photo show different times: 1.30 and 2.30. That's India. It was 2.30.

_________________
Remembering the men and women of Chailey, Sussex, England

www.chailey1914-1918.net

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

Thanks Paul

A beautiful " kirk " and stunning plaque to their memory.

I wonder if " proceeding on Active Service " means they were travelling to Bangalore, en route back to Mesopotamia. I am aware they were on leave in India whilst the remainder of the battalion were still in Mesopotamia.

Here are the details of the nine men from CWGC records with addition info at the end of the entry.

As you will see Samuel Hamilton is a mystery. His name and number tie with the 1st Argylls in CWGC, Soldiers Died in The Great War, the Scottish National War Memorial and his MIC card. He is the only one of seven to die in India. He was, like the other eight, buried at Trimulgherry. Perhaps he was " attached " to 2nd Black Watch at the time. ( Update - the detail of his death in the Scotsman of 3rd October confims he was attached to 2nd BW at his death)

David Blaik was a former Argyll.

William Brackenridge was recorded as Breckenridge on the Army Service Return. His death certificate also used this spelling.

2nd Battalion, Black Watch

Name: BANNERMAN, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Corporal
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Date of Death: 13/08/1917
Service No: S/7305
Additional information: Buried in Trimulgherry Cantonment Cemetery.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Face 18.
Memorial: MADRAS 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL, CHENNAI

Born St Mary's, Forfarshire. Enlisted Lochgelly, Fife

Name: SOUTER, EDWARD ADAM
Initials: E A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 13/08/1917
Service No: S/19755
Additional information: Son of William and Margaret Souter, of Woodside Cottage, Wardhouse,
Insch, Grampian. Buried in Trimulgherry Cantonment Cemetery.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Face 18.
Memorial: MADRAS 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL, CHENNAI

Born Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire Enlisted Oldmeldrum

Name: RITCHIE, ALEXANDER GEORGE
Initials: A G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 21
Date of Death: 13/08/1917
Service No: S/19753
Additional information: Son of the late William S. Ritchie and Jane Ross (formerly Ritchie), of 25, Bruckly St.,
Rosehearty, Fraserburgh, Grampian. Buried in Trimulgherry Cantonment Cemetery.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Face 18.
Memorial: MADRAS 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL, CHENNAI

Born Old Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire Enlisted Aberdeen

Name: BLAIK, DAVID
Initials: D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Date of Death: 13/08/1917
Service No: S/20012
Additional information: Buried in Trimulgherry Cantonment Cemetery.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Face 18.
Memorial: MADRAS 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL, CHENNAI

Born and enlisted Edinburgh
Formerly s/10598 A & S Highlanders

1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders

Name: BIRNIE, JOHN
Initials: J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Age: 35
Date of Death: 16/08/1917
Service No: S/8433
Additional information: Son of James and Charlotte Sneddon Birnie. Buried in Trimulgherry Cantonment Cemetery.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Face 23.
Memorial: MADRAS 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL, CHENNAI

Born St Cuthberts, Edinburgh. Enlisted Edinburgh

Name: WHITE, EDWARD JOHN
Initials: E J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders
Unit Text: 6th Bn.
Age: 27
Date of Death: 13/08/1917
Service No: TF/265609
Additional information: Son of the late Edward John White and Mary Glaze (formerly White), of 29, Phoenix Place,
Notting Hill, London. Buried in Trimulgherry Cantonment Cemetery.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Face 23.
Memorial: MADRAS 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL, CHENNAI

Enlisted London

Name: McKINNON, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Date of Death: 16/08/1917
Service No: 10715
Additional information: Buried in Trimulgherry Cantonment Cemetery.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Face 23.
Memorial: MADRAS 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL, CHENNAI

Born Nairn, Morayshire Enlisted Nairn

Name: BRECKENRIDGE, WILLIAM
Initials: W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Date of Death: 17/08/1917
Service No: S/9858
Additional information: Buried in Trimulgherry Cantonment Cemetery.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Face 23.
Memorial: MADRAS 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL, CHENNAI

Born Barony, Lanarkshire Enlisted Glasgow

Name: HAMILTON, SAMUEL
Initials: S
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Unit Text: 1st Bn.
Date of Death: 17/08/1917
Service No: 445
Additional information: Buried in Trimulgherry Cantonment Cemetery.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Face 24.
Memorial: MADRAS 1914-1918 WAR MEMORIAL, CHENNAI

Born Barony, Lanarkshire Enlisted Glasgow

_________________
Jim

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

www.kinnethmont.co.uk