The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:41 pm Post subject: ALEXANDER SMITH

Name: SMITH, ALEXANDER
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 26/04/1917
Service No: S/43462
Additional information: Born at Dundee. Son of John and Annie Rough Smith, of Shawfield, Rosemount, Blairgowrie, Perthshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. D. 5.
Cemetery: GUEMAPPE BRITISH CEMETERY, WANCOURT

Alexander Smith is commemorated on St. Andrews W.M., Blairgowrie.

DUNDEE COURIER: 30.04.19

In loving memory of Alex. Smith, 9th B.W., killed near Arras 23rd April 1917 (sic). Son of John Smith, Shawfield, Blairgowrie.

After months of scratching my head re. Alexander Smith who is commemorated at Collace I believe they are the same man;

THE PEOPLE'S JOURNAL: 23.06.1917
FOR THEIR COUNTRY

SMITH - Killed in action on 26th April, Pte. Alex. Smith, Black Watch, dearly loved son of Mr and Mrs Smith, Forth of Lawton, Coupar Angus. and dearly loved brother of Betsy Dunn, Haughend, Dunning.

All information fits BUT at Collace Smith is shown 2/6 Black Watch but he was 9th B.W. Did these battalions merge at some point?

Mark

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

Mark

I think you could safely conclude they are the same if you find a Betsy Phillip Smith born c 1887 to John Smith and Annie Rough marrying a Dunn. If so she was his elder sister. In 1901 there were three sisters younger than Alexander. It is odd that Betsy was singled out for a mention on the NOK info. Maybe the others were deceased.

I expect the 1901 image might show " Roual " as Rough?? Typical Ancestry!!

1901 Scotland Census
about Alexander Maxwell Smith
Name: Alexander Maxwell Smith
Age: 8
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1893
Relationship: Son
Father's Name: John Robt
Mother's Name: Annie Roual
Gender: Male
Where born: Dundee, Forfarshire
Registration Number: 333
Registration district: Blackford
Civil parish: Blackford
County: Perthshire
Address: Easter Bardsill
Occupation: Scholar
ED: 3
Household schedule number: 4
Line: 19
Roll: CSSCT1901_116
Household Members: Name Age
John Robt Smith 40
Annie Roual Smith 35
Betsy Phillip Smith 14
Alexander Maxwell Smith 8
Margaret Smith 6
Marjory Thomson Smith 4
Johanna Smith 9 mo
_________________
Jim

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

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

dhubthaigh · Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 6:24 pm Post subject:

Besty Philip Smith (dr. of John Smith & Annie Rough) md. William Dunn 30.12.1907 at Abernethy.

Yes spot on, but why 2/6th B.W at Collace whilst other info states 9th B.W. ?

Mark

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

Mark

War memorials and other sources. You can't trust them in isolation.
Maybe, one day his service record will surface which will add more detail.
_________________
Jim

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

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

Jim · Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 195

The WWI history page on the Black Watch website http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/index/first-world-war

says "The 2nd, 4th and 5th Battalions were at Neuve Chapelle in March and a total of six battalions fought at Festubert in May where two Victoria Crosses were won by members of the Regiment. Then in September came the initially successful but horrifically costly attacks at Loos in which the 9th Battalion suffered over 700 casualties."

Might that have meant that the 9th Batallion was disbanded and the surviving troops dispersed among the other batallions or that soldiers from other batallions were drafted in to rebuild the 9th Batallion?

dhubthaigh · Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 1:46 pm Post subject:

Very interesting, thanks.