The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Ian M · Joined: 02 Dec 2007 Posts: 47 Location: St.Boswells

.

Would be intested to know which Battalion.

Sapper

apanderson · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject:

Name: SPEIRS, RONALD PATRICK
Initials: R P
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Age: 20
Date of Death: 23/04/1917
Additional information: Son of the late P. A. Speirs, of Bonjedward, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Bay 9.
Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL

Surname SPEIRS
Firstname Ronald Patrick
Date Death 23/04/1917
SNWM roll THE ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS
Rank 2/Lt
Theatre of death Unknown

Adam Brown · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:45 am Post subject:

If you see a post-1881 Argyll refered to as a 93rd he will be in the 2nd Bn. If it's 91st then he's 1st Bn.

Like the Argylls, The Highland Light Infantry still used 71st and 74th for 1st and 2nd Bns up until 1947 (when the 2nd Bns of the Scottish Regiments were amalgamated into the 1st Bn.)

Regards

Adam

stuartn · Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551

WMR 69105

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2019 10:24 am Post subject:

Ronald is named as a LIEUTENANT here, on the Fetters College Roll of Honour and on the Jedburgh War Memorial.
His promotion was announced in the London Gazette Publication date: 4 May 1917 Supplement: 30050 Page: 4299
Arg. & Suth'd Highrs. 2nd Lt. R. P. Speirs (since killed in action) to be Lt. 4th Apr. 1917.
I have informed CWGC.

SPEIRS, R. P. LIEUT. A. & S. H.
Ronald Patrick Speirs – age 20 – Second Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Ronald was educated from 1910 at Fettes College in Edinburgh and then at the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. He was commissioned in the Special Reserve in August 1914, in the Argylls in July 1915 and he joined the 2nd Battalion in France in August 1916. Ronald was promoted to Lieutenant just before he was killed.
Born 1897 in Jedburgh. Son of the late Sheriff Peter Alexander Speirs of Bonjedward, Jedburgh (died 1907) and of Florence (Cooke) Speirs of 45 St. George's Court, Gloucester Road, London and of Lincoln House, Basil Road, London.
Missing in Action on 23 April 1917 and named on the Arras Memorial, France.
_________________
Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 4:55 pm Post subject:

From CWGC today

Dear Mr Morrison,

Thank you for your email

Having investigated this case, I can confirm that Ronald Patrick Speirs had been promoted to Lieutenant shortly before his death on the 23rd April 1917.

I have therefore amended our internal database to reflect this rank and this change should replicate on our website within the next 24 hours or so. Please feel free to check.

Unfortunately, no amendment to the Arras Memorial is possible in this case and therefore his name will have to remain under the Second Lieutenant heading until the appropriate panels are next replaced naturally.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention and if you have any further queries please don't hesitate to contact us again.

Kind Regards

Martin Skelly
Records Administrator Headstones
_________________
Ken