The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 5:59 pm Post subject:

WILLIAM DOUGLAS, R.H.

Named on the Southdean Parish War Memorial in Roxburghshire as:

Pte. WILLIAM DOUGLAS, Bl. W.
William Douglas – age 20 – Private (11571) 2nd Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
William was a gamekeeper at Blackadder Mount, Edrom, Berwickshire when he enlisted. He was posted to his battalion in Mesopotamia in May 1916 but contracted malaria and died in the 31st Stationary Hospital in Baghdad.
Born 1897 in Southdean. Son of Tom and Agnes Wilson (Oliver) Douglas of Chesters, Southdean.
Died on Active Service on 14 December 1917 and buried in Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq.
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Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 11:55 am Post subject:

William Fulton Somervail, Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross – age 26 – Captain, 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and Brigade Major 3rd Infantry Brigade.
William was educated at Loretto School in Musselburgh until 1911. He obtained a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Cameronians in August 1914 and joined the 1st battalion in France in January 1915. He was awarded a M.C. “For conspicuous gallantry, marked ability and presence of mind at Neuve Chapelle from 10th to 14th March, 1915, when he ably seconded his Commanding Officer and performed excellent work on his own initiative. On the evening of the 12th March he collected the men of his battalion and conducted them over unknown ground to a position for attack with very good judgment. He brought his Battalion out of action after the engagement on 14th March.” He was promoted to Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion in April 1915, to Captain in June and fought at Loos and on the Somme. In July 1917 he took command of his Battalion again, was made Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel and awarded the D.S.O. In January 1918 he became Brigade Major, 3rd Infantry Brigade. William and his Brigadier, Sir William Algernon Ireland Kay, went out alone to reconnoitre the position at Joncourt near St. Quentin, and were found later lying dead, killed by the same shell.
Born 1892 in Edrom, Berwickshire. Son of James Alexander Somervail and of Isabella (Fulton) of Hoselaw, Linton, Roxburghshire.
Husband of Joyce Isabel (Munro) Somervail of Auchindoune, Cawdor, Nairn who he married in August 1918 in Inverness.
Killed in Action on 4 October 1918 and buried in Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy, Aisne, France.
Also named on the Linton Parish War Memorial, on the Parish Church memorial, on an individual memorial in Hoselaw Chapel in Linton, on the Kelso War Memorial and on the Loretto School memorial.
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Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:54 pm Post subject:

WILLIAM YOUNG, K.O.S.B.

I cannot find a man to fit - I wonder if it might be this man from Allanton which is I think in Edrom Parish.
Delboy posted this on page 8 of the Galashiels thread:
(Glasgow Herald 20th April 1915)
"A telegram received in Allanton, Berwickshire, announces the death from "spotted fever" of Private William Young, Cameron Highlanders. He was a son of ex-Police Inspector Young, Galashiels, and prior to the war was an insurance agent in Allanton district. He had only been in the trenches a week when he contracted the fatal malady. He was 25 years of age."

He is named on the Galashiels War Memorial as:

PTE. WILLIAM YOUNG. Camerons
William Young – age 24 – Private (S/14437) 1st Battalion, Cameron Highlanders.
William was an insurance agent in the Allanton district of Berwickshire when he enlisted in November 1914 and he joined his battalion in France in February 1915 but he became ill and after a week he died of “spotted fever” in the 10th Stationary Hospital in St. Omer.
(Source: Berwickshire Advertiser 23/4/1915 p.5 & Jedburgh Gazette 23/4/1915 p.3 and Medal Roll/Card)
Born 1890 in Galashiels, Selkirkshire. Son of the late Margaret (Elder) Young (died 1909) and of ex-Inspector Roderick Young of Galashiels Burgh Police.
Brother of Miss Janet Lithgow Muir Young of "Eldersyde" Melrose Road, Galashiels.
Died on Active Service on 14 April 1915 and buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France.

Also on the Galashiels memorial is his brother:
Alexander James Young – age 32 – Private (201396) 7th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders.
Killed in Action between 23 and 28 April 1917 and buried in Tank Cemetery, Guemappe, France.
Row F in the cemetery is one big grave in which 64 men of the 7th Cameron Highlanders are buried.
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Ken

DerekR · Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 6:01 pm Post subject:

Ken,
I think that you are correct regarding William Young.
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Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 6:46 pm Post subject:

Cheers Derek Very Happy

I'm way out of my geographical comfort zone so it's nice to have your "nod".

Thanks mate.
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Ken