The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2023 3:15 pm Post subject:

JACK ATKINSON
Jack Atkinson – age 32 – Rifleman (54194) 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps.
Jack enlisted as Private (S4/145225) in the Army Service Corps and landed in France in November 1915. At some point he was transferred as Rifleman (47624) to the KRRC.
Born 1886 in Ulverston, Lancashire as John Kendall Atkinson. Son of John Singleton Atkinson and of Elizabeth (Harding) Atkinson of 57 Hardgate Street, Haddington. The family came to Haddington in about 1900. Husband of Janet Scott (Little) Atkinson of Traprain Farm, Prestonkirk, East Lothian and of 8 South David Street, Edinburgh who he married in 1918 in Edinburgh.
Died of Wounds on 17 October 1918 and buried in Busigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
***** Not found on any local war memorial.

FRANK BURNET
Francis Alexander Burnet – age 26 – Lieutenant, 1/8th Battalion, Royal Scots.
Francis was educated at the Knox Institute at Haddington. He was commissioned in the local Territorial 8th Royal Scots in June 1915 and joined the 1/8th Battalion in France in January 1916. He was promoted in July 1917.
Born 1892 in Haddington. Son of the late James Stuart Burnet (died 1893) and of Euphemia Scott Burnet of Church Street, Haddington. Husband of Nannette (Harris) Burnet of Ravensheugh, Bromborough, Wirral, Cheshire and of Knoll Road, Bexley, Kent who he married in March 1918 in Bromborough.
Missing in Action on 11 April 1918 and named on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.
Also named on the Haddington Burgh War Memorial, on the Knox Institute memorial and on the Rugby Club memorial in Haddington, and on the Bromborough Parish War Memorial.

CYRIL CROZIER
James Cyril Baptist Crozier – age 23 – Second Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers.
James was educated at Loretto School in Musselburgh before he became a Student of Medicine at Edinburgh University in 1909. In 1911 he was a Medical Student, living with his uncle George Spence at 6 Long Yester in Yester/Gifford, East Lothian. He was commissioned from the Edinburgh University Officer Training Corps to the 3rd Royal Scots in July 1912 and appointed to the RMF in June 1914. James landed with his battalion at Le Havre on 14 August 1914 but he was killed two weeks later at Etreux.
Born 1890 in Bowden, Cheshire. Son of the late Rev. Henry Wilcocks Crozier (died 1898) and of the late Susannah Mary McCormack (Spence) Crozier (died 1905 in Yester).
Killed in Action on 27 August 1914 and buried in Etreux British Cemetery, France.
Also named on the Yester Parish War Memorial in Gifford Village, on the Loretto School memorial and Roll of Honour, and on the Edinburgh University Old College memorial and Roll of the Fallen

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2023 3:22 pm Post subject:

PETER COWE
Peter Cowe – age 34 – Private (40892) 17th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.
Peter served his apprenticeship as a draper in Eyemouth, Berwickshire and he and his wife were employed in the drapery business when they married in Haddington in 1913 . He enlisted as Private (2284) in the Royal Scots and was transferred to the HLI in France.
Born 1883 in Eyemouth as Peter Nisbet Cowe. Son of William and Jeanie (Nisbet) Cowe of Eyemouth. Husband of Christina Stewart (Thomson) Cowe of 11 Newton Port, Haddington who he married in 1913 in Haddington.
Killed in Action on18 November 1916 and buried in New Munich Trench British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, France.
Also named on the Haddington Burgh War Memorial, on the Eyemouth War Memorial and on the St John's United Free Church memorial in Eyemouth.

ALAN GORDON
Alan Gordon – age 27 – Leading Seaman (J/3435) H.M.S. Vivid, Royal Navy.
Alan was a grocer's boy when he enlisted in September 1910. He was promoted to Leading Seaman in October 1918 while serving on the light cruiser HMS Liverpool. Alan was at the shore base HMS Vivid at Devonport from April 1919. He drowned in the River Tamar.
Born 1892 in Dunbar, East Lothian. Son of Joseph and Jessie (Bowmaker) Gordon of West Haugh, Haddington.
Died on Service on 30 November 1919 and buried in Plymouth (Ford Park) Cemetery, Devon.
***** Not found on any local war memorial.

GEORGE J. MCLAUGHLIN
Not listed by CWGC.
George John McLaughlin – age 32 – Boatswain, Merchant Navy.
George was educated at the Knox Institute in Haddington and in 1911 he was a 3rd Officer in the Merchant Service, living with his mother Alice Maud Steil and his step-father David Thomson Steil at 33 Hope Park, Haddington. He was resident in Dundee when he was reported as having drowned at sea.
Born 1886 in Haddington. Son of the late William Ormsby McLaughlin (died 1892) and of Alice Maud (Millar) McLaughlin of Hope Park, Haddington.
Lost at Sea on 27 October 1918.
Also named on the Knox Institute memorial and on the Haddington Burgh War Memorial.

JAMES C. ORMISTON
James Couper Ormiston – age 19 – Private (325341) 11th Battalion, Royal Scots.
James was educated at the Knox Institute in Haddington.
Born 1898 in Haddington. Son of Peter and Janet (Couper) Ormiston of 44 High Street, Haddington.
Killed in Action on 22 March 1918 and buried in Combles Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Also named on the Knox Institute memorial and on the Haddington Burgh War Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2023 3:26 pm Post subject:

DAVID PETTIGREW
David Pettigrew – age 21 – Private (306268) 11th Battalion, Tank Corps.
David enlisted as Private (2247) in the Royal Engineers and was posted to the Tank Corps in France.
Born 1897 in Galashiels, Selkirkshire as David Bain Pettigrew. Son of John Pettigrew and of the late Mary Jane (Bain) Pettigrew (died 1911 in Haddington)
Killed in Action on 3 September 1918 and buried in Dury Crucifix Cemetery, France.
Also named on the Haddington Burgh War Memorial.

WILLIAM GEORGE PITCHER
William George Pitcher – age 56 – Quartermaster Sergeant (325263) Depot, Royal Scots.
William enlisted in August 1883 and served in Malta, India and Burma. He was appointed RSM to the 6th Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Scots in June 1900 and became the Orderly Room Clerk to the Territorial 8th Royal Scots. He re-enlisted as Colour Sergeant (1147) in August 1914 and landed with the 1/8th Battalion at Le Havre in November. He became ill and was evacuated to the 2nd Scottish General Hospital in Glasgow in November 1915. After he had recovered he was posted to the GHQ Records Office in Rouen in June 1916 but a re-infection caused a rupture of his bladder and he was evacuated to the Royal Infirmary in Manchester where he died during an operation.
Born 1861 in Southwark, London. Son of the late William and Mary Ann (Biddis) Pitcher. Husband of Mary Anne Galbraithe (Fry) Pitcher of Alexandra Place, Haddington who he married in 1889 in Roslyn Chapel, Lasswade, Midlothian.
Died on Service on 24 December 1917 and buried in Haddington Cemetery. (CWG)
Also named on the Haddington Burgh War Memorial.

and his son

VICTOR R.T. PITCHER
Victor Richard Thomas Pitcher – age 20 – Private (2494) 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.
Victor was educated at Penicuik, at Peebles and at the Knox Institute in Haddington and was a bugler in the Territorial 8th Royal Scots. In August 1914 he was rejected for overseas service and he enlisted in the Gordons in September. He joined his battalion in France in December 1914.
Born 1896 in Mandalay, Burma. Son of Q.M.S. William George Pitcher and Mary Anne Galbraithe (Fry) Pitcher of Alexandra Place, Haddington.
Missing in Action on 25 July 1916 and named on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.
Also named on the Knox Institute memorial and on the Haddington Burgh War Memorial.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2023 3:37 pm Post subject:

SIMON ROSS
Simon Ross – age 23 – Private (S/40861) 1/5th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders,
Simon was a foreman shoemaker living at Buchanan Place in Stenhousemuir, Larbert when he enlisted as Private (25570) in the Cameron Highlanders in December 1915. He was mobilised in September 1916 and went to France in December. He was transferred to the Gordons in March 1917.
Born 1892 in Inverness. Son of Donald and Mary (Ross) McDonald of Huntly Street, Inverness. Husband of Thomasina Ann Black (Prentice) Ross of High Street, Stenhousemuir, of 42 Hardgate Street, Haddington and of 19 Lower View Craig Row, Edinburgh who he married in June 1914 in Haddington.
Killed in Action on 16 May 1917 and buried in Brown's Copse Cemetery, Roeux, France.
Also named on the Haddington Burgh War Memorial and on the Inverness War Memorial.

WILLIE STOCKDALE
Possibly:
William James Stockdale – age 22 – Private (251575) 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Scots.
William was a farm labourer when he enlisted as Private (4330) in the 2/4th Royal Scots in May 1916. He was transferred to the 8th Battalion in January 1917 and joined the 5th/6th in France later that month. William contracted spinal meningitis and died in the 14th Stationary Hospital in Wimereux.
Born 1895 in Settle, Yorkshire. Son of William and Agnes Hutchinson (Smith) Stockdale of Trees Farm, Westhouse, Ingleton, Yorkshire.
Died on Active Service on 2 May 1917 and buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France.
***** Not found on any local war memorial.

JOHN WATSON
John Watson – age 30 – Second Lieutenant, 17th Battalion, Royal Scots.
John was employed by the British Linen Bank in London when he enlisted in the 9th Seaforth Highlanders in September 1914. As Colour Sergeant (S/5059) he landed with his battalion at Boulogne in May 1915 and became a Company Quartermaster Sergeant. He was commissioned in the Royal Scots in May 1917 and joined the 17th Battalion in France later that year.
Born 1888 in Edinburgh as John Hamilton Dunkeld. Son of John Dunkeld of Grassmarket, Edinburgh and of Hamilton Down of Shotts, Lanarkshire.
In 1891 John Dunkeld, aged 3, was living with Alexander and Agnes Watson in Leith and in 1901 as John Watson he was with the family in Tweedmouth, Northumberland.
Adopted son of the late Agnes Halliburton (Watson) Watson (died 1908) and of Alexander Watson of Tweedmouth and of Branxton, Cornhill-on-Tweed, Northumberland. Husband of Jessie (Burnet) Watson, of St. Regulus, Church Street, Haddington who he married in September 1917 in Haddington.
His brother-in-law Francis Alexander Burnet, Lieutenant, 1/8th Battalion, Royal Scots died on 11 April 1918 and is listed above.
Killed in Action on 27 April 1918 and buried in Harponville Communal Cemetery, France.
Also named on the Haddington Burgh War Memorial, on the Tweedmouth War Memorial, on the Berwick-upon-Tweed War Memorial and on the British Linen Bank memorial in Edinburgh.

WILLIE WHARTON
Willie Wharton – age 27 – Bugler (21149) 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.
Willie was a miner living at 6 Millum Terrace, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland when he enlisted as Private (15757) in the East Yorkshire Regiment in November 1914 but he was discharged as unfit for service due to bronchitis. Later he enlisted as Private (83877) in the Royal Field Artillery and was posted to the 2nd HLI in France.
Born 1889 in Arnold, Basford, Nottinghamshire. Son of Henry Wharton and of Julia (Clayton) Wharton of 20 Morgan Street, Southwick, Sunderland. Husband of Edith (Apps) Wharton of Moncur's Buildings, Haddington who he married in 1911 in Monkswearmouth.
Edith's parent had come to Haddington in about 1917.
Missing in Action on 28 April 1917 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.
Also named on the Haddington Burgh War Memorial.
_________________
Ken