The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

apanderson

Archibald Walter Davie (War Memorials online, Ref. No. 176677)

Address: Inchcailloch Graveyard, Loch Lomond
Up steps just off the main island circular path near Balmaha

Status: On original site Type: Freestanding Location: External Setting: Within a garden/park/churchyard/enclosure/Marketplace
Description: Addition to Gravestone Stone: Sandstone Lettering: Incised
Conflicts: First World War (1914-1918)

About the memorial: Gravestone of old red sandstone set on a plinth. It has a curved decorative top with quatrefoil flowers. This gravestone is unexpected, as Inchcailloch has been depopulated since around 1796. However the little Chapel served the various islands in the Loch which were populated. Although the chapel was disused from around 1770 (when a new Church was built on the mainland) the last burial in the churchyard was not until 1947. As can be seen Archibald was very much from an island family, born on Inchfad and living on Inchcruin in 1901.The island can be visited by daily ferry from Luss and Balmaha. Pte Davie (39269 Scots Guards, formerly S/14559 Gordon Highlanders) died at the age of 30. He was married to Annie Baird Davie and they lived on the adjacent mainland, at the village of Buchanan. His body was never found and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

apanderson · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 3:52 pm Post subject:

CWGC:
Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal Scots, ‘A’ Coy., 2nd Bn.
No: 39269
Date of Death: 26th September 1917
Age: 30
Commemorated: Tyne Cot Memorial
Additional Information: Son of Archibald and Agnes Murray Davie. Husband of Annie Baird Davie, Buchanan Smithy, Drymen.

SNWM:
Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment), 2nd Battalion
No: 39269
Formerly Gordon Highlanders, No. S/14559
Place of Birth: Balfron
Date of Death: 26th September 1917
Place of Death: France & Flanders
Cause of Death: Killed in action

SDGW:
Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal Scots, 2nd Battalion,
No. 39269
Formerly Gordon Highlanders, No. S/14559
Place of Birth: Balfron
Place of Residence: Balfron
Place of Enlistment: Stirling
Date of Death: 26th September 1917
Place of Death: France & Flanders
Cause of Death: Killed in Action

Commemorated:
Gartmore Civic Memorial, see: http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=687&highlight=gartmore
Drymen Civic Memorial, see: http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/viewtopic.php?t=733&highlight=drymen
Davie Family Gravestone on Incailloch Island, Loch Lomond
Wife’s Family Gravestone in Buchanan Churchyard, see: http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/viewtopic.php?t=974&highlight=buchanan&mforum=scottishwargraves

MIC: Archibald W. Davie, Private, No. 39269, Royal Scots
Medal Entitlement: British War & Victory Medals

Soldiers’ Effects: Archibald W. Davie, 2nd Bn., Royal Scots, No. 39269. Killed in action, Belgium
Widow Annie Davie.

1891 Census, Living at Island of Inchfad, (Loch Lomond), Stirlingshire
Father Archibald Davie, age 51, Shepherd on Inchfad, born Buchanan
Mother Agnes Davie, age 46, born Stranraer, Wigtownshire
Children: Archibald W. Davie, age 3, born Buchanan
William Davie, age 1, born Buchanan

1901 Census, Living at Island of Inchcruin, (Loch Lomond) Buchanan, Stirlingshire
Father Archibald Davie, age 61, Farm Grieve on Island, born Buchanan
Mother Agnes Davie, age 56, born Stranraer
Children Archibald W. Davie, age 13, Scholar, born Buchanan
William M. Davie, age 11, Scholar, born Buchanan

1911 Census, Living at Gartlick, Buchanan
Mother Agnes Davie, age 66, Widow, born, Stranraer, Wigtownshire
Children: Archibald Davie, age 23, Forester, born Buchanan
William Davie, age 21, Labourer in Chemical Works, born Buchanan

1915 – 16 Valuation Roll: Auchentroig
Proprietor: Euing Russell Crawford, Auchentroig. Tenant: Archibald Davie, Forrester

Marriage:
At Buchanan Smithy, Parish of Buchanan, 26th September 1913
Archibald Walter Davie, Forester, age 26, residing at Park House, Drymen
Son of Archibald Davie, Shepherd (deceased) and Agnes Bryce Davie nee Murray
Annie Baird, age 26, residing at Buchanan Smithy
Daughter of William Baird, Mason and Mary Baird nee Orr
Clergyman: William Boyd, Minister of Kilmaronock
Witnesses: James MacFarlane & Isabella Dow

Stirling Observer, 3rd November 1917, ‘Local Soldier Killed’
We regret to chronicle the death of another local soldier in the person of Mr. Archie Davie. Deceased was employed at Auchentroig and joined up a considerable time ago. He was married to a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Baird, Buchanan Smithy.

Stirling Observer, 10th November 1917, ‘Killed in Action’ (Auchentroig)
Mrs. Davie has received official intimation that her husband Private Archibald Davie, Royal Scots, was killed on 26th September. He was 30 years of age and joined the Gordon Highlanders eighteen months ago, being latterly transferred to the Royal Scots. Prior to enlisting he was forester to Col. Euing R. Crawford of Auchentroig.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 7:21 pm Post subject:

What a stunning photograph of the graveyard!

Thanks for posting Anne.
_________________
Ken

apanderson · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 11:50 pm Post subject:

I took the wee mail boat across from Balmaha and thought I was going to end up head first in the loch as we were bouncing about all over the place. The wind and rain stopped and the sun came out making my wee daredevil adventure all the more worthwhile.

The very kind gentleman who took me across from Balmaha Boatyard accompanied me up to the burial ground. Turns out that the Davie Family are part of his family tree (through Christina MacFarlane) and although he knew about the earlier generations of the Davie Family who are listed on the stone, he had never noticed that this third generation Archibald had lost his life in WW1.

That's one crossed off my bucket list for now!! (Lots more to go!).

Happy days! Very Happy