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INVERKEITHING
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Adam Brown
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Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 9:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Alex

Some fascinating information on Inverkeithing men, thank you for posting them. You've obviously gone to a lot of trouble to research the men.

Interesting to see the two 5th Seaforths. The attack on Beaumont Hamel was considered the battalion's finest day of the war and many of the battalion are buried in Mailly-Maillet. With it being the end of most of the fighting on the Somme the 51st Div were able to clear many of the bodies from the battle from Beamont Hamel and give them a proper burial behind the lines, not something many units had the luxury of doing during the war.

I don't think there is any coincedence that they were in the same unit given their numbers.

It would be interesting to know why they chose that battalion. May it have something to do with it being the Scottish unit with the HQ & Depot furthest away from their home town? I supose we'll never know now.

Thanks

Adam
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Kenneth Morrison



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PostPosted: Fri Sep 24, 2010 3:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Adam Brown wrote:


It would be interesting to know why they chose that battalion. May it have something to do with it being the Scottish unit with the HQ & Depot furthest away from their home town? I supose we'll never know now.

Adam


I remember reading a book "Last man standing" (I think) about a young man from NE England who enlisted underage but was found by his family and dragged home. The next time he tried he went to his local railway station having discovered that the railway company were offering free rail travel to men who wanted to enlist. He asked for a ticket to the furthest away place and travelled to Inverness and then onto the Seaforths barracks at Fort George.
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A Morris



Joined: 19 May 2010
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Location: Netherlands

PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 3:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

For Inverkeithing, the battle of Loos proved to be one of tragic loss.

Eleven men with connections to the Inverkeithing area were killed in the Battle of Loos which began on the 25th September 1915. Five of the men served with the 9th Btn the Gordon Highlanders of 44 Brigade. In principal this battalion was the pioneer battalion but many of the men were assigned to the infantry assault. The assault began at 06:30 after a 40 minute gas and smoke barrage. This was the British Army’s first major use of gas in the Great War. Unfortunately, the wind was not entirely favourable for the gas release and many men in the British lines were killed and badly injured by its effects.

The men that died from the 9th Btn of the Gordon Highlanders are given below:

Pvt S/4024 Peter Lindsay
Pvt S/4028 John Brown
Pvt S/3984 J Farish
Pvt S/3985 Cunningham Black Thomson
Pvt S/3982 R Robertson

Three men died from the 9th Btn the Black Watch. This battalion was one of the first wave assault battalions from the 44th Brigade serving in the 15th Division. Their goal was to capture the Loos Redoubt and enter the vilage of Loos-en-Goshelle and finally onto Hill 70. The men that died were:

Pvt S/4156 William Dick
Serjeant 3/3720 Thomas Rutherford
Pvt S/4110 Andrew Young

One man died while serving in the 8th Btn Seaforth Highlanders. The Seaforths were also one of the assault battalions, part of 44th Brigade serving in the 15th Division. The Seaforths attacked from the left flank of 9th Black Watch and had similiar objectives.

Pvt S/6646 Peter Cuthbertson

One man died while serving with the 8th Btn Gordon Highlanders. The Gordons were part of 26th Brigade in the 9th Scottish Division and attacked on the northern sector of the battlefield at the infamous Hohenzollern Redoubt. Arguably the strongest part of the entire German front line:

Pvt S/6589 David Brown

One man died while serving with the 11th Btn Royal Scots. The Royal Scots were part of 27th Brigade in the 9th Scottish Division. They were the divisions reserve brigade which also attacked on the northern sector of the battlefield.

Pvt 14202 Robert White


Pvt Robertson is buried in Lillers Communal Cemetery and Pvt Farish is buried in Fosse 7 Military Cemetery. Sadly, for the other nine men, their bodies were never identified and they are commemorated on the Loos Memorial. As can be seen from the Service Numbers - many of these young men joined-up together, served together probably knowing each other well in their battalions, and ultimately died together.





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A Morris



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PostPosted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:45 pm    Post subject: 31st July 1917 – Beginning of Third Ypres Reply with quote

The 3rd Battle of Ypres began on the 31st July 1917 and it had tragic consequences for one man who had lived in Inverkeithing.

John Fife Campbell was born near Peterhead in about 1886. He was registered as living in Inverkeithing in the 1901 census with his father (John), mother (Isabella) and three younger sisters (Mary, Chrissie and Annie). The census recorded John’s occupation as a Rope Runner. He emigrated to Australia and married his wife Amy Dorothy; their address was Hart Street, in Glanville South Australia.

John enlisted in the 43rd Battalion AIF on the 4th February 1916. His service record shows that he sailed from Australia on the 9th June 1916 disembarking in Marseilles in France on the 20th July 1916. The 43rd Battalion War diary records that the battalion moved out of camp at 8:00 p.m. on the 30th of July 1917, in preparation for the great infantry assault, and were transported by 32 lorries close to the front at Souvenir Farm. They then disembarked and marched in platoons to the front line near La Petite Douve Farm – arriving at 3:40 a.m. on the 31st (ten minutes before their intended starting time). The battalion had a frontage of about 1000 yards to attack with their right flank protected by the River Douve and their sister battalion (the 42nd Battalion) on their left flank.

The battalion war diary states in detail the horrific fighting that took place that day. They were relieved at midnight by the 41st Battalion. The battalion suffered 221 casualties, killed, missing or wounded. Sadly, one of them was Pvt. John Campbell – he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate in Ypres.
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A Morris



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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:22 pm    Post subject: Tyne Cot Reply with quote

There are approximately 35,000 men commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium , including seven men from Inverkeithing.

Five men lost their lives during the 3rd Battle of Ypres which started on the 31st July 1917. Those men were:

• S/14520 Pvt. Richard Dean the 8th Battalion Black Watch – killed on 12/10/1917
• 241242 L/Cpl. James Robertson the 4/5th Battalion Black Watch – killed on 26/09/1917
• 238066 Pvt. Thomas Donnelly the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders – killed on 04/10/1917
• 40039 Pvt. Andrew Robertson the 7/8th Battalion KOSB’s – killed on 22/08/1917
• 11547 Pvt. William Waterson the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards – killed on 12/10/1917

The battle raged on into mid November – and perhaps more than any other battle from the Great War depicted the mud and slaughter that took place.

During the 1918 Spring offensive launched by the Germans, two more men were lost in battle:

• S/22608 Pvt. David Ferguson the 5th Battalion Cameron Highlanders – killed on 25/04/1918
• 59398 Pvt. Alexander Thomson the 12th Battalion Royal Scots – killed on 25/04/1918

It was estimated that the German army on the Western Front in Spring 1918 was some 235 divisions strong – with 4.6 million men. Much of the territory gained the previous year was lost as the allied armies fought desperately to prevent a German breakthrough in the Ypres salient.

The GWGC do a wonderful job maintaining the memorial and the adjoining cemetery, sadly however, you will see that several of the names are suffering from severe weather damage and are most difficult to read.






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A Morris



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PostPosted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 5:19 pm    Post subject: Royal Garrison Artillery Reply with quote

Royal Garrison Artillery

As many members will probably know, during the Great War, the Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA) played a crucial role in most of the great battles which were fought. The RGA came into existence in 1899, and were a unit within the Army until 1924 when they were eventually amalgamated into the Royal Artillery. The RGA were responsible for manning the large and heavy calibre howitzers and guns – which had incredible destructive powers.

During the Great War eight men from Inverkeithing served with the RGA making the ultimate sacrifice for King and Country. They were:

• 81580 Gunner Robert Binning – 159th Heavy Battery RGA – DOW 04/11/1916 on the Somme. Buried in Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte.
• 82321 Gunner William Clark – 1st Welsh Heavy Battery RGA – KIA 30/11/1917. Buried in Railway Dugouts Burial Ground in Ypres.
• 45125 Gunner Charles Long – 20th Heavy Battery RGA – Died 01/09/1916. Buried in Salonika Military Cemetery in Greece.
• 344397 Gunner R McLaren – 221st Siege Battery RGA – KIA 01/11/1917. Buried in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery in Ypres.
• 78176 Gunner Douglas Morgan – 168th Siege Battery RGA – DOW 31/12/1916. Buried in Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery near Ypres.
• 344309 Battery Serjeant Major A Nicholson – 153rd Siege Battery RGA – KIA 04/07/1917. Buried in Dickebush New Military Cemetery near Ypres.
• 32921 Serjeant R Thomson – 4th Siege Battery RGA – KIA 01/09/1917. Buried in Divisional Collecting Post Cemetery in Ypres.
• 347468 Corporal William Todd – Forth RGA TF – Died 18/09/1917 from pneumonia. Buried in Inverkeithing Cemetery.

I am no military historian, but I do not believe it is coincidence that the majority of the men died while serving in the Ypres salient. Clearly the British Army had a huge artillery presence there to try and defend the salient and during the third battle of Ypres.

I would like to thank John Burnett for making me aware of the late Mr. David King who I understand has written several booklets about the men from Inverkeithing who served. I recently obtained a copy of the one he wrote about Douglas Morgan. He was a very capable juvenile footballer who eventually went on to play professional football before the war.






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A Morris



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PostPosted: Mon Nov 01, 2010 6:59 pm    Post subject: The Cameronians Reply with quote

Two men from Inverkeithing served and died during the Great War with The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). They were formed in 1689 and ultimately disbanded in 1967 (link showing ceremony in 1967):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be2Dqef2Eks

Thomas Mathers was born in Inverkeithing in about 1884. In the 1901 census he was registered as living in King Street with his grandfather (David), father (Thomas) and his four brothers (George, Andrew, Robert and John). Thomas served with the 1st Battalion, which formed part of the 19th Brigade serving in the 33rd Division. In the Spring of 1918 the battalion were serving in the Ploegsteert sector of the front. Thomas was killed in action on the 13th April 1918 and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

Thomas McArthur was born in Inverkeithing in about 1891 and came from a large family. In the 1901 census he was registered as living at 13 Shaw Street, Govan in Glasgow with his mother (Euphemia), two brothers (John and James) and two sisters (Euphemia and Elizabeth). Three older men (two McArthurs) lived at the same address although I am unable to determine their relationship.

Thomas served with the 2nd Battalion, which formed part of 23rd Brigade serving in the 8th Division. In March 1915 the Battalion were part of the assault force for the Battle of Neuve Chappelle. Along with the 2nd Middlesex, the Cameronians formed the assault battalions for 23rd Brigade. It is well documented that at 7:30 the British Artillery barrage pounded the German Front Line positions before lifting for the infantry assault which began at 8:05. There are many accounts describing the inadequacy of the barrage for all kinds of reasons. There is a detailed account of the assault written by Lt. Malcolm Kennedy from B Company. I would like to quote a few lines:

”It probably did not take more than half-a-minute to reach the German wire (lines were approx. 50 yards apart at this point) but even in that short interval of time men were falling fast, and I just remember a fleeting glance at A Company to our left, with the men dropping as though some giant scythe were sweeping through their ranks”.

Thomas McArthur’s body was never identified and he is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial K.I.A. 10th March 1915.


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A Morris



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PostPosted: Tue Nov 02, 2010 7:26 pm    Post subject: Vimy Memorial Reply with quote

There are 11,169 men commemorated on the Vimy Memorial in France which commemorates members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, including two men from the Inverkeithing area, who have no known resting place.

The two men were:

• 136591 Pvt. William Anderson Cram – A Company, 5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles.
• 126483 Pvt. Robert Crichton – 50th Battalion Canadian Infantry.

William Cram was born in North Queensferry on the 18th August 1891. He is recorded in the 1901 census as living with his father (William), mother (Helen) and four sisters (Helen, Catherine, Sophie and Isabella) at West Sands in North Queensferry. William emigrated to Canada and his attestation papers show that he was working as a labourer when he enlisted on the 25th November 1915. His address was 44 Fenning Street, in Toronto. William was 5ft. 5.5in. tall with blue eyes and brown hair. In October 1916 William was involved with his battalion in the Battle of the Somme, his battalion was part of the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade which had Regina Trench as its objective on the 1st October. The Canadian Corps had been attacking in this sector since 15th September and would ultimately take 24,000 casualties during this phase of the battle. On October the 1st 1916 William Anderson Cram was one of his battalions 224 casualties.

Robert Crichton was born in Aberdeen on the 22nd September 1888. He is recorded in the 1901 census as living with his father (Robert), mother (Jane), younger brothers (James, Alex and William) and younger sister Jeannie. Robert emigrated to Canada and enlisted in the CEF on the 15th September 1915. At the time of his death, Robert’s wife (Lily) was residing in Preston Crescent in Inverkeithing. Robert was 5ft. 6in. tall with brown eyes and dark brown hair – his occupation was a labourer. In May 1917 Robert was serving with his battalion in the Lievin sector close to Lens in France. The battalion war diary for the 11th of May 1917 states that they received “Bombardment throughout the day”. It also records 10 other ranks killed in action – one of whom was Robert Crichton.


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A Morris



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PostPosted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 4:30 pm    Post subject: English/Irish Regiments Reply with quote

Many men from Inverkeithing served in English and Irish Regiments during the Great War. If this was done through choice or due to recruitment shortages for specific regiments is difficult to assess. Twelve men from the Inverkeithing area who served and died in these regiments are listed below. In several instances these men were born in Inverkeithing and consequently moved to England or Ireland to live:

• 13176 Pvt William Fyfe Anderson, 2nd Btn Bedfordshire Regiment – KIA 12/10/1916 and commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial
• 6113 Pvt Hugh Donnachie, 2nd Btn Border Regiment – KIA 16/05/1915 and commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial
• 18207 Pvt Colin Clow, 1st Btn Hampshire Regiment – KIA 01/07/1916 and commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial
• 1821 Guardsman John Greer, 1st Btn Irish Guards – KIA 13/09/1914 and commemorated on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial
• 5947 Guardsman J Harkin, 1st Btn Irish Guards – DOW 07/08/1915 and buried in Calais Southern Cemetery
• 49282 Pvt Patrick Coyle, 17th Btn Lancashire Fusiliers – KIA 16/09/1918 and buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery
• 46881 Pvt Finlay Duff, 18th Btn Lancashire Fusiliers – DOW 02/11/1917 and buried in Salferino Farm Cemetery
• 75572 Pvt Victor Albert Fairful, 1/9th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers – died 21/08/1918 and buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery
• 23310 Pvt Charles Blythman, 1st Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers – DOW 28/12/1915 and buried in Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery
• 23094 Rifleman James Morris Bauld, 2nd Btn Royal Irish Rifles – KIA 22/10/1918 and buried in Ingoyghem Military Cemetery
• 1868 Rifleman John Berry, 1st Btn Royal Irish Rifles – KIA 25/09/1915 and commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial
• 267270 Pvt Robert R Millar, 2/7th Btn Royal Warwickshire Regiment – KIA 05/12/1917 and commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial

Le Touret Memorial





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A Morris



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PostPosted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 5:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

According to the 1901 census Peter Robert Swann lived in Castlandhill Cottage in Inverkeithing with his father Andrew 48, brother James (15) and sisters Margaret (19) Annie (12) and Edwina (4).

Peter emigrated to Canada and worked as a Book Keeper. He enlisted in the 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry on the 8th April 1915. He was 5ft 6in tall and described as having a dark complexion, blue eyes with dark brown hair.

Peter was awarded the Military Medal (MM) for his action serving with his battalion on the 9th April 1917 which was the opening day of the battle of Arras. All four divisions of the Canadian Corps were in action during the heroic capture of Vimy Ridge. Peter’s battalion were part of 4 brigade of II Canadian Division. Peter was awarded the MM for sending invaluable scouting reports during the advance to the RED and BLUE objectives.

It is recorded in the London Gazette of 13th April 1918 that Peter received his commission to the rank of Lieutenant on Sunday 24th March 1918.

Peter died of wounds received on Thursday 8th August 1918. He was probably in either the 5th or 47th Casualty Clearing Station located at Crouy-Sur-Somme. He had been wounded while his battalion were in the line at Cachy (south east of Amiens) on the evening of Tuesday 6th August 1918 while acting as the Battalion Scouting Officer. His battalion were in the line preparing for the major offensive which became the Battle of Amiens on Thursday 8th August 1918. His death was noted in the battalion war diary on the 12th August.

Peter is buried in Crou-Sur-Somme Military Cemetery.

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Lindsay



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PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 11:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

AWARDED M.M. FOUR MONTHS AGO, KILLED
Awarded the Military Medal four months ago, Trooper Robert Robertson, 10 King Street, Inverkeithing, has been killed in action in the Middle East.

Trooper Robertson, who was 21 years of age, was the younger son of Mrs Mercer, King Street, and the late Mr .R. Robertson, Heriot Street. Before enlisting he was in the employment of Metal Industries, Limited.

Robertson was awarded the Military Medal last September, when, although wounded, he displayed great gallantry in rescuing three men from blazing tanks while under enemy fire.
Evening Telegraph 7 January 1943
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A Morris



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PostPosted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi,

I have researched where the final resting place is for the men and woman commemorated on the Inverkeithing WW2 Memorial. I have been able to locate 34 out of the 35 names commemorated, I have been unable to identify:

A T Forrest

If any members would have any information I would much appreciate it.

Rgds,
Alex
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A Morris



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PostPosted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Name: Cecil Horne
Rank: Private
Service Number: S/21203
Unit: 4th Battalion
Regiment: Gordon Highlanders
Date of Death: 29th August 1918
Father: William
Mother: Susan Jane
Resident of Beith (formerly of 105 Kings Tor, Burnside in Inverkeithing)
Also commemorated on the Beith Memorial

Commemorated on the Vis en Artois Memorial in Northern France
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A Morris



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PostPosted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Name: David Macnamara
Rank: Private
Service Number: S/25847
Unit: 9th Battalion
Regiment: Seaforth Highlanders
Year of Birth: 1899
Date of Death: 31st May 1918
Father: David
Mother: Sarah
Born: Balfron Stirlingshire
Resided: 3 King Street, Inverkeithing
Buried in Meteren Military Cemetery in Northern France: Plot IV D 643
Name recorded as McNamara with CWGC
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A Morris



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PostPosted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 4:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Name: John Charlton
Rank: Private
Service Number: 8364
Unit: 2nd Battalion
Regiment: Durham Light Infantry
Date of Death: 21/09/1914
Born: Deptford in Sunderland in 1881
Married to Mary (nee Hannah) and father of Olive
Buried in Vendresse British Cemetery in France

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