The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

jrah60 · Last edited by jrah60 on Sun Jul 25, 2010 6:58 pm; edited 2 times in total

This memorial is situated inside Neilston Primary School, High Street, Neilston. http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic5338.html

The Individual memorial has a bronze circular plaque mounted on a wooden frame and is inscribed as follows:
2ND LIEUT MATTHEW MONTGOMERY MA SEAFORTHS 51ST HD DIV KILLED IN ACTION FRANCE 20TH JULY 1918.

Below the Bust is the inscription:

AS ASSISTANT MASTER IN THIS SCHOOL 1907 – 1916 HE WON THE LOVE AND RESPECT OF HIS MANY FRIENDS IN NEILSTON & DISTRICT WHO ERECT THIS TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY AS A SOLDIER A TEACHER & A MAN.

On the lower left of the plaque is the inscription RBryden Ft MCMXIX(sculptor of the bronze plaque?)

CWGC Details

Name: MONTGOMERY, MATTHEW
Initials: M
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Seaforth Highlanders
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Age: 34
Date of Death: 20/07/1918
Additional information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery, of "Crumyards," Neilston; husband of Edith Winifred Montgomery, of Millview, Neilston, Renfrewshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: C. 15.
Cemetery: ST. IMOGES CHURCHYARD, FRANCE (link http://scottishwargraves.phpbbweb.com/viewtopic.php?p=19197&mforum=scottishwargraves#19197)

John Houston

ADP · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Posts: 467 Location: Edinburgh

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 10:08 pm Post subject:

A smashing memorial, thanks for posting it. As you can see his badge is the wildcat of the 5th Bn Seaforths and not the usual stag's head. He also has small 'T's on his collar for 'Territorial'.

That was the TF battalion of the far North of Scotland. A long, long way from Renfrewhsire. It would be interesting to know why he became an officer in that unit rather than the local Argylls TF unit.

Regards

Adam

anne park · Last edited by anne park on Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:46 am; edited 1 time in total

Regiment or Corps: Spc List (on Suspense List)
Regimental Number: NW/3/9477, 201758, 285047, 285047
(Widow) Mrs M Montgomery
2 Millview Terr; Neilston, nr Glasgow
6th Bn A & S High Pte 201758
6th Bn Seaforths Pte 285047
5th Bn 2nd Lt

anne park · Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:39 am Post subject: 1901 Census details

Name: Mathew Montgomery
Age: 17
Estimated birth year: abt 1884
Relationship: Son
Father's Name: Robert
Mother's Name: Helen
Gender: Male
Where born: Eaglesham, Renfrewshire
Registration Number: 572/1
Registration district: Neilston
Civil parish: Neilston
County: Renfrewshire
Address: Crumyards
Occupation: Pupil Teacher
ED: 5
Household schedule number: 12
Line: 4

anne park · Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:44 am Post subject: 1891 Census info

Name: Matthew Montgomery
Age: 7
Estimated birth year: abt 1884
Relationship: Son
Father's Name: Robert
Mother's Name: Helen
Gender: Male
Where born: Eaglesham, Renfrewshire
Registration Number: 572/1
Registration district: Neilston
Civil parish: Neilston
County: Renfrewshire
Address: Crumyards
Occupation: Scholar
ED: 5
Household schedule number: 76
Line: 4

Adam Brown

jrah60

Some further information on the cap badge

The 5th battalion was first formed in 1859, early in the Volunteer movement, by the Duke of Sutherland.
It took as its badge, the Sutherland Crest (the Wild Cat), with the proud motto "Sans Peur."
Its tartan was also the Sutherland, of black, navy blue, and green, similar to that worn by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
When the Territorial Force was formed, the battalion had to change its name to the 5th (Sutherland and Caithness) Seaforth Highlanders.
However as a concession to volunteer and county traditions, it was still allowed to wear the Sutherland Badge and Tartan.
It is thus unique in being differently dressed from all other Seaforth Battalions.

John Houston

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:17 am Post subject:

John

Thanks for adding the extra information on the 5th Seaforths. If you look very closely at the bronze plaque you will see something sticking out of the top of the cap badge.

The officers of the 5th Bn had slightly different badges to the other ranks. On Montgomery's badge it is a small metal eagle's feather. Lieutenants had one feather, captains two feathers, majors three feathers and colonels had four feathers.

Because the cap badge used the clan crest of the Sutherland family the Volunteer unit used the accepted Victorian practice of adding eagle feathers to a clan crest badge.

I'll see if I can find an illustration.

Kind regards

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 7:23 pm Post subject:

And here is a photograph of Lt Montgomery, obviously the same one used by the sculptor

neilston · Joined: 14 Dec 2012 Posts: 370 Location: Neilston

From The Glasgow University site
Matthew Montgomery, born on the 24th June 1883, in Eaglesham, Renfrewshire, son of Mr and Mrs Montgomery, of "Crumyards", Neilston; husband of Edith Winifred Montgomery, of Millview, Neilston, Renfrewshire. He graduated MA in 1908 at the University of Glasgow.

He was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Tardenois, part of the Battles of the Marne, on the 20th July 1918, aged 35. 2nd Lieutenant Matthew Montgomery is buried at the St Imoges Churchyard cemetery, some 10 miles south of Reims in northern France.