The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

A Morris · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1281 Location: Netherlands

Hi,

I am following up a link for the above man. I have downloaded his UK Army Register of Soldier's Effects. This clearly indicates that his widow was his wife Agnes; however I would be grateful if anybody can help translate the other text in the TO WHOM AUTHORISED column.

40749 Private John Petrie
12 Btn Royal Scots
SDGW: KIA 12th April 1917
CWGC: KIA 9th April 1917

Rgds,
Alex
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Remembering my Great Uncle - 963 Private Charles Lockhart 2nd Btn Gordon Highlanders - KIA 29/10/1914

john burnett · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 790 Location: Fife

Sorry Alex never saw this before I sent pm to you.
To me it reads Alexandria Swan £3 10/- (alimony list)
Agnes A 7/4
then in red underneath
wid
Agnes £3

(Agree you need someone who understands these forms - which is not me!)
To confuse you even more there is an entry under Pensions records for a John Petrie who was in Border Reg (short attestation) married to Agnes Swan 27/10/1908

Best of luck

anne park · Posted: Sun May 29, 2016 6:37 pm Post subject: The British Newspapers Archive

The Scotsman - Friday 25 May 1917 Page 7 has only a little info
Royal Scots - Petrie , 40749 J . ( Leith ).
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

anne park · Last edited by anne park on Sun May 29, 2016 7:50 pm; edited 2 times in total

Pte. John Petrie, Royal Scots, has been killed. went through through the South African war. He was mobilised at the outbreak of the war, and prior to that was employed with his father, Mr William Pitrie, aerated water manufactaror, Burlington Street, Leith. He leaves a widow, who resedes at 47 Charlotte Street, Leith.
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

anne park

PETRIE—Killed in action on April 12th Pte John Petrie , Royal Scots : dearly beloved husband of Agnes Nixon Swan 47 Charlotte Street . Leith and second son of Wm . Petrie , aerated water manufacturer , Burlington Street ; Leith.
Small amount of info just help to build a bigger picture.
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

A Morris · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1281 Location: Netherlands

Many thanks Anne.

Rgds,
Alex
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Remembering my Great Uncle - 963 Private Charles Lockhart 2nd Btn Gordon Highlanders - KIA 29/10/1914

anne park · Posted: Sun May 29, 2016 7:42 pm Post subject: John Petrie Census 1891

Name: John Petrie
Age: 9
Estimated birth year: abt 1882
Relationship: Son
Father's name: Wm Petrie
Mother's name: Margt Petrie
Gender: Male
Where born: Leith, Mid Lothian
Registration Number: 692/1
Registration district: Leith North
Civil Parish: Leith North
Town: Leith
County: Midlothian
Address: 17 Citadel
Occupation: Scholar
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Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon May 30, 2016 7:35 am Post subject:

The story as near as I can figure it out

John Petrie was born on South Leith on 21 July 1881 to William Petrie and to Margaret Watson Kirkpatrick Petrie.
In 1891 they were at 17 Citadel Leith North. John was aged 9.
In 1901 he was a Private, aged 20, at the Barracks in Berwick on Tweed.
(It doesn't say so but I assume with the KOSB)
In 1904 aged 22 he was a dock labourer when he enlisted on 22 August as Private 7866 Border Regiment. He joined the Depot at Carlisle on 31 August and was posted t the 1st Battalion in October.
He was appointed a Pioneer in November 1904. He was transferred to the Reserves in August 1907.
He was mobilised in the 2nd Battalion on 26 August 1914 and transferred to the the 3rd on 3 September after failing his medical and was discharged on 7 September 1914 as not physically able for war service. The Pension record confirms the parents detail and that he married Agnes Nixon Swan on 27 October 1908 at South Leith Church. (confirmed on Scotlandspeople)
There was a daughter Alexandrina Gun Swan born in 1908 in Leith North which I assume was his daughter but that needs to be confirmed on Scotlandspeople.
There isn't a date of entry on his Medal Card so it looks like he enlisted in the Royal Scots after 1915.
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Ken

A Morris · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1281 Location: Netherlands

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the info. I have downloaded the birth certificate and can confirm Alexandrina was born on the 7th Oct 1908. Father John Petrie and mother Christina Petrie (nee Gunn). They were married in 1885 so that discounts my man as the father.

The plot thickens.

The marriage certificate for 1885 indicates this John was born in 1863 and was a Private in the Gordon Highlanders when married.

I am still assuming that my John was a relative of this John.

Rgds,
Alex
_________________
Remembering my Great Uncle - 963 Private Charles Lockhart 2nd Btn Gordon Highlanders - KIA 29/10/1914

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon May 30, 2016 4:50 pm Post subject:

Alex - looking at the CWGC documents the 9 April date is clearly an error.
Mind you the Grave Registration schedule is a mess (his name is PETTIE)
and he was originally a "ditto" date entry but another previous entry was changed to 9 April so his new "diitto" date followed.
The one useful thing is on the Headstone schedule where his next of kin is Mrs. AGNES N. PETIE, so surely the correct man and wife??????

But it doesn't explain Alexandrina Rolling Eyes

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Ken

A Morris · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1281 Location: Netherlands

Hi Ken,

Yes I have downloaded the CWGC docs. My only possible link I have so far with this couple and Inverkeithing is the 1911 census which has an Agnes Petrie (married in 1908) living there as a lodger with a William Petrie. She is registered as having one living child. The child may be Finlayetta Petrie born in 1910 in Lambeth. As John was a Commercial Traveller (I believe in his father's business) it may be that they travelled? John had an elder brother William, so this is my current line of thinking.

As John Burnett has suggested to me it may be that William and Agnes were married, so I may be barking up the wrong tree. However, on many of the census records I have seen most couples are registered as HEAD and WIFE which is not the case with these two.

I will try to get the birth certificate for Finlayetta, this will shed some more light.

Rgds,
Alex
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Remembering my Great Uncle - 963 Private Charles Lockhart 2nd Btn Gordon Highlanders - KIA 29/10/1914

A Morris · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1281 Location: Netherlands

Hi John,

Looks like you are correct, I have emailed you some marriage info for William and Agnes.

Back to square 1 for me.

Rgds,
Alex
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Remembering my Great Uncle - 963 Private Charles Lockhart 2nd Btn Gordon Highlanders - KIA 29/10/1914