The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Adam Brown · Last edited by Adam Brown on Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:26 am; edited 1 time in total

The Cookney war memorial lists an

A.B. W Black

The Cairnhill Roll of Honour, which lists some Cookney names, has a

Pte. W. Watt. Black, RN Div

I can find no entry in SNWM or CWGC which would match this man. Is he a non-comm?

Adam

DelBoy · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 3:23 am Post subject: William Watt (Black)

Here he is.

CWGC
WATT, WILLIAM
Rank: Able Seaman
Service No: Clyde Z/5314
Date of Death: 13/11/1916
Regiment/Service: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Anson Bn. R.N. Div.
Panel Reference: Pier and Face 1 A.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

SNWM
Surname: WATT
Firstname: William
Service Number: Clyde Z/5314
Date Death: 13/11/1916
SNWM roll: THE ROYAL NAVY
Rank: Able Seaman

The Marine Return.

After a wee bit more digging I found that he was born illegitimately to a Marjory Watt in the parish of Arbuthnott in 1891, but registered in Cookney parish. He was named William Murray Black Watt.
Ten years later in 1901 his parents got married!

Cheers,
Derek.

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:25 am Post subject:

Excellent, the way Watt was written with as Watt. made me thing it was a shortened version of something else.

Many thanks Derek

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:37 am Post subject:

By the way what is the Marine Return?

Thanks

Adam

David McNay · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:19 am Post subject:

It's the death record from scotlandspeople.

anne park

Name: William Watt
Service Branch: Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Unit: Anson Bn.
Rank: Able Seaman
Death Date: 13 Nov 1916
Cause of Death: Missing, later reported killed in action
Burial: Thiepval Memorial (MR 21)
Service History: Enlisted 9/6/15 ; Draft for MEF 5/10/15, joined Anson Bn. 25/10/15-18/12/15 Jaundice, rejoined Anson Bn. 5/4/16-15/8/16 posted to 255th Tunnelling Company (accidentally injured 18/8/16), rejoined Anson Bn. from 255th Tunnelling Company 19/9/16-13/11/16 DD.
Service Number: Clyde Z/5314
Notes: A Tramway-Driver ; b.28/5/1891 ; Home address: 2 Regent Place, Elderslie, Renfrew ; Next-of-Kin: Friend, James Black, Denburn Cottage, Newhills, Aberdeen, later of: 337 Great Northern Rd., Woodside, Aberdeen. ; ADM/171 = St.V.B. issued to Father.
Notice in the record NoK: Friend then later Father.

DelBoy · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 12:49 pm Post subject:

Just to clarify, a "Marine Return" is the form filled in for merchant marine and royal navy deaths, much like the "Service returns" but with much greater detail usually with date of birth, place of birth, address and next of kin.

It's been a while since i sent along ScotlandsPeople downloads to Anne Anderson, I just took a wee tally as I keep them all in the same folder. I've now amassed 317 Embarassed

Derek.

Adam Brown · Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:50 pm Post subject:

Anne

Thanks for the detail on Watt. It looks like he was at Gallipoli if he was sent in a draft to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.

13.11.1916 is a significant date for many a highland village because of the 51st Div's attack on Beaumont Hamel on that day but the 63rd Royal Naval Division was also in action at the same place on that day.

Regards

Adam