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15th (Scottish) Division    15th (Scottish) Division was established by the Scottish Command in September 1914, as part of the Army Orders authorising Kitchener's Second New Army, K2. Early days were somewhat chaotic, the new volunteers having very few trained officers and NCOs to command them, no organised billets or equipment. The Division was inspected by HM King George V on 26 September 1914 - the first occasion on which the Division paraded as a formed unit, and with the exception of the Staff, plain clothes were worn. By 22 January 1915 the Division was in uniform for an inspection by Kitchener. By the early summer of 1915, the Division was considered to be ready for France and embarkation orders were received on 3 July 1915. The Division served with distinction on the Western Front for the remainder of the war, taking part in most of the significant actions and winning regard by the enemy as one of the most formidable in the British army. 1915 The Battle of Loos 1916 In spring 1916, the Division was involved in German gas attacks near Hulluch (27-29 April 1916) and in the defence of the Kink position (11 May 1916). These are among the engagements officially known as the Actions of Spring 1916. The Battle of Pozieres - Somme The Battle of Flers-Courcelette - Somme in which the Division captured Martinpuich The Battle of Le Transloy - Somme in which the Division took part in attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt 1917 The First Battle of the Scarpe - Arras Offensive The Second Battle of the Scarpe - Arras Offensive in which the Division captured Guemappe The Battle of Pilckem - Third Battles of Ypres The Battle of Langemark - Third Battles of Ypres 1918 The First Battle of Bapaume - Somme The First Battle of Arras - Somme The Battle of the Soissonnais and of the Ourcq including the the attack on Buzancy, a phase of the Battles of the Marne The Final Advance in Artois Order of Battle of the 15th (Scottish) Division 44th Brigade 9th Btn, Black Watch left February 1918 8th Btn, Seaforth Highlanders 9th Btn, Gordon Highlanders left January 1915 10th Btn, Gordon Highlanders left May 1916 7th Btn, Cameron Highlanders joined January 1915, left as a cadre June 1918 1/4th Btn, Black Watch joined November 1915, left January 1916 8th Btn, Gordon Highlanders joined May 1916, left as a cadre June 1918. Renamed 8/10th Btn from May 1916 44th Machine Gun Company joined 12 January 1916, left to move into 15th MG Battalion 17 March 1918 44th Trench Mortar Battery joined 25 June 1916 4/5th Btn, Black Watch joined June 1918 1/5th Btn, Gordon Highlanders joined June 1918 45th Brigade 13th Btn, Royal Scots 7th Btn, Royal Scots Fusiliers. joined in September 1914, renamed 6/7th Btn in May 1916, left February 1918 6th Btn, Cameron Highlanders 11th Btn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders left as a cadre in June 1918 45th Machine Gun Company joined 12 February 1916, left to move into 15th MG Battalion 17 March 1918 45th Trench Mortar Battery joined 17 June 1916 1/8th Btn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders joined June 1918 46th Brigade 7th Btn, King's Own Scottish Borderers 8th Btn, King's Own Scottish Borderers merged and became 7/8th Bn, May 1916 10th Btn, Cameronians 12th Btn, Highland Light Infantry left February 1918 1/4th Btn, Suffolk Regiment joined November 1915, left February 1916 1/4th Btn, Seaforth Highlanders joined November 1915, left February 1916 46th Machine Gun Company joined 11 February 1916, left to move into 15th MG Battalion 17 March 1918 10/11th Btn, Highland Light Infantry joined May 1916, left February 1918 46th Trench Mortar Battery joined 20 June 1916 9th Btn, Black Watch joined February 1918, left as a cadre May 1918 4/5th Btn, Black Watch joined May 1918, left June 1918 1/9th Btn, Royal Scots joined June 1918 Divisional Troops 7th Btn, Bedfordshire Regiment left February 1915 7th Btn, Leicestershire Regiment left April 1915 9th Btn, Gordon Highlanders joines as Divisional Pioneer Battalion January 1915 11th Motor Machine Gun Battery joined 23 June 1915, left 22 July 1916 225th Machine Gun Company joined 19 July 1917, left to move into 15th MG Battalion 17 March 1918 15th Battalion Machine Gun Corps formed 17 March 1918 Divisional Mounted Troops B Sqn, Westmorland & Cumberland Yeomanry joined 23 June 1915, left 10 May 1916 15th Divisional Cyclist Company, Army Cyclist Corps formed 23 December 1914, left 21 June 1916 Divisional Artillery LXX Brigade, RFA LXXI Brigade, RFA LXXII Brigade, RFA left 20 January 1917 LXXIII (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA broken up 1-3 December 1916 15th Divisional Ammunition Column RFA 15th Heavy Battery, RGA raised with the Division but moved independently to Gallipoli and was attached to 10th (Irish) Division in 1915 V.15 Heavy Trench Mortar Battery RFA joined November 1916, left 9 February 1918 X.15, Y.15 and Z.15 Medium Mortar Batteries RFA formed by June 1916; on 9 February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each Royal Engineers 73rd Field Company 74th Field Company 91st Field Company joined January 1915 15th Divisional Signals Company Royal Army Medical Corps 45th Field Ambulance 46th Field Ambulance 47th Field Ambulance 32nd Sanitary Section left 29 March 1917 Other Divisional Troops 15th Divisional Train ASC 138, 139, 140 and 141 Companies 27th Mobile Veterinary Section AVC 216th Divisional Employment Company joined 22 May 1917 15th Divisional Motor Ambulance Workshop absorbed into Divisional Train 9 April 1916 15th of March 1915  Active Artillery    17th of March 1915 Retaliation   13th of June 1915  16th of June 1915 Attack Made 4th Jul 1915 Orders Received 7th Jul 1915  Orders 8th Jul 1915 Advance Party 9th Jul 1915  Advance Party 9th Jul 1915  On the Move 9th Jul 1915 Advance Party 10th Jul 1915  Move 10th Jul 1915  On the Move 10th Jul 1915 On the Move 11th Jul 1915  At Rest 11th Jul 1915  Orders Received 12th Jul 1915  At Rest 12th Jul 1915  On the Move 13th Jul 1915  On the Move 13th Jul 1915  On the Move 14th Jul 1915  Orders Recieved 14th Jul 1915  On the March 15th Jul 1915  On the March 15th Jul 1915  On the March 16th Jul 1915  On the March 16th Jul 1915  On the March 17th Jul 1915  On the March 17th Jul 1915  On the March 18th Jul 1915  Training and Baths 18th Jul 1915  Quiet 19th Jul 1915  Quiet 20th Jul 1915  Instruction 20th Jul 1915  Reliefs 21st Jul 1915  Route March 21st Jul 1915  Quiet 22nd Jul 1915  Quiet 22nd of July 1915 Superior Sniping   23rd Jul 1915  Quiet 24th Jul 1915  Instruction   24th Jul 1915  Reliefs 25th Jul 1915  Recce 26th Jul 1915  Instruction 26th Jul 1915  Orders 27th Jul 1915  Reliefs   28th Jul 1915  Instruction 28th Jul 1915  Reliefs Complete   29th Jul 1915  Change of Command 29th Jul 1915  Reliefs   30th Jul 1915  Reliefs   31st Jul 1915  Registration   1st Aug 1915  Into the Line   1st Aug 1915 Shelling   31st Aug 1915 Artillery 2nd Aug 1915 Quiet   3rd Aug 1915 HQ Moves   4th Aug 1915 Quiet   5th Aug 1915  Machine Guns 5th Aug 1915 In Action   6th Aug 1915  Poor Conditions 6th Aug 1915 Heavy Shelling   7th Aug 1915  Cleaning up 7th Aug 1915 Guns Moved   8th Aug 1915  Working Parties   8th Aug 1915 Quiet   9th Aug 1915  Quiet 9th Aug 1915 Quiet   10th Aug 1915  Reliefs 10th Aug 1915 Quiet   11th Aug 1915  Quiet 11th Aug 1915 Quiet   12th Aug 1915  Reliefs 12th Aug 1915 Some Shelling   13th Aug 1915  Trench Work 13th Aug 1915 Some Shelling   14th Aug 1915  Trench Work   14th Aug 1915 Shelling   15th Aug 1915  Enemy Tricks 15th Aug 1915 Quiet   16th Aug 1915  Thunder Storm 16th Aug 1915 Quiet   17th Aug 1915  Raiding Party 17th Aug 1915 Quiet   18th August Appointments  6th County of London Brigade RFA report 2/Lt J.A.W. Petro proceeded to Les Brebis to assist 2/Lt C.E.H. Lloyd in digging gun pits on the defence lines. Two 18 pounder guns fetched from 15th Divisional Artillery to provide practice for the Batteries of this Brigade. War Diaries 18th Aug 1915  Reliefs 18th Aug 1915 Observation Post   19th Aug 1915 Quiet   20th Aug 1915  Reliefs   20th Aug 1915 Shelling   21st Aug 1915  Confusion   21st Aug 1915 Light Shelling   22nd Aug 1915  Artillery Duel   22nd Aug 1915 Low Cloud   23rd Aug 1915  Intermittent Shelling   23rd Aug 1915 Shelling   24th Aug 1915  Heavy Shells   24th Aug 1915 Quiet   24th August 1915 Preliminary Operations Order.   24th August 1915 Orders   25th Aug 1915  Heavy Shelling   25th Aug 1915 Shelling   26th Aug 1915  Dugout Destroyed   26th Aug 1915 Ranging   27th Aug 1915  In Billets 27th Aug 1915 Quiet   28th Aug 1915  In Billets 28th Aug 1915 Relief    29th Aug 1915  In Billets 29th Aug 1915 Quiet   30th Aug 1915  Route March 30th Aug 1915 Quiet   31st Aug 1915  Baths 31st Aug 1915 Quiet   1st Sep 1915 Musketry 1st Sep 1915 Orders 3rd Sep 1915 Fatigue Parties 5th September 1915 Church Parade  6th County of London Brigade RFA attend Church Parade at 4th Corps H.Q. Labuissiere. 2/Lt J.A.W. Petro assisted by 2/Lt A.F. Yencken took a section from 17th London Battery to be attached to 15th Divisional Artillery. War Diaries 6th Sep 1915 Course 7th Sep 1915 On the March 11th Sep 1915 Course 13th Sep 1915 Reliefs   20th Sep 1915 Relief Completed 21st Sep 1915 Artillery in Action 22nd Sep 1915 Bombardment 23rd Sep 1915 Bombardment   24th Sep 1915 Bombardment 25th Sep 1915 Assualt Launched  At 6.30 on the morning of 25th of September 1915, the four-day artillery bombardment paused, gas and smoke was released and the infantry assault was launched. The gas released on I Corps front hung between the lines or blew back into British positions, notably on the northern flank around the Brickstacks. To the northern edge of the battlefield, advancing infantry emerging from the cloud suffered high losses as they were met with devastating machine gun fire. The second wave advanced once the gas at cleared, only this time to be cut down by a hail of machine gun fire and a shower of bombs. Gas was far more effective on IV Corps front south of the Grenay Ridge, in front of 15 & 47 Division sector the gas drifted towards the German trenches and the advance more successful. On some divisional fronts the gas was supplemented with smoke candles, as gas was not available in sufficient quantity. Even though it would not cause casualties, the smoke looked the same as gas and so forced the defenders to continue taking all the inconvenient anti-gas precautions. It had been estimated that to clear the German positions would require two hours of gas: but there was only enough for forty minutes, which even then, had to be supplemented with smoke. Many of the British units achieved their first objectives, but the reserve troops urgently needed to exploit these initial successes were a long way back and after a long exhausting march did not go into action until the following day. By which time the German reinforcements were counter-attacking and the British were driven back. By the end of the day the Allies had lost 13 Battalion commanders, over 400 officers and 8,500 men of other ranks. 25th Sep 1915 11th Royal Scots in Action 25th Sep 1915 The Artois Campaign 25th Sep 1915 Attack Continues 25th Sep 1915 In Action 25th Sep 1915 In Action   25th Sep 1915 Attack Made   25th Sep 1915 In Action   25th Sep 1915 In Action   25th Sep 1915 Objectives Gained 25th Sep 1915 Assault Made   26th Sep 1915 Dismounted Cavalry in Action 26th Sep 1915 Shoring up Defences 26th Sep 1915 Reliefs 26th Sep 1915 Heavy Shelling   26th Sep 1915 Defensive Positions 26th September 1915 Heavy fighting on the Left flank 26th Sep 1915 Attack Made   27th Sep 1915 Into Billets   28th Sep 1915 Reorganisation 29th Sep 1915 Refitting 30th Sep 1915 Refitting 1st Oct 1915 Inspection 2nd Oct 1915 Inspection 2nd October 1915 Inspected by Divisional General 3rd Oct 1915 On the Move 7th October 1915 New draft inspected 12th Oct 1915 On the Move 13th Oct 1915 Orders 22nd Oct 1915 Heavy Shelling 23rd Oct 1915 Shelling 24th Oct 1915 Quiet 25th Oct 1915 Quiet 26th Oct 1915 Reliefs 27th Oct 1915 In Reserve 28th Oct 1915 In Reserve 29th Oct 1915 Reliefs 30th Oct 1915 Heavy Shelling 31st Oct 1915 Heavy Shelling 1st Nov 1915 Relief Completed 2nd Nov 1915 Wet Day 7th Nov 1915 Reliefs   8th Nov 1915 Heavy Shelling   9th Nov 1915 Artillery in Acton   10th Nov 1915 Reliefs   10th November 1915 Bombardments   13th Nov 1915 Reliefs   16th Nov 1915 Reliefs   19th Nov 1915 Into Billets 26th Nov 1915 Reliefs   30th Nov 1915 Reliefs   4th Dec 1915 A Note from the Enemy   5th Dec 1915 Intermittent Shelling   6th Dec 1915 Quiet   7th Dec 1915 Reliefs 13th Dec 1915 On the March 13th December 1915 Operational Order No.44.   15th December 1915 47th Division relieving 15th Division 1st Mar 1916 Reliefs   2nd Mar 1916 On the Move   7th Mar 1916 Reliefs   10th Mar 1916 Rations 12th Mar 1916 Enemy Party   13th Mar 1916 Reliefs   17th Mar 1916 Relief   18th Mar 1916 Enemy Mine   19th Mar 1916 Reliefs 24th Mar 1916 Quiet 7th April 1916 March from Lillers 16th April 1916 15th Division on G.H.Q. Reserve 21st April 1916 Inspection 22nd April 1916 Inspection 26th April 1916 Prepare to move 7th May 1916 Reliefs 15th of May 1916  Active Sniping 31st of October 1916  3rd July 1916 Working and Mining parties 12th July 1916 Medals and Decorations 29th July 1916 Orders 12th August 1916 Division to attack   22nd August 1916 Location "B" Battalion in Support O.G.1 & 2.   1st of September 1916 Locations 1st September 1916 Orders received   2nd September 1916 Orders   3rd of September 1916  7th of September 1916 Exercise 7th of September 1916    10th September 1916 New Positions  236th London Brigade Royal Field Artillery report 235th and 236th Brigades came under the command of CRA 15th Division. B,C and D Batteries moved sections into new positions. B236 Battery in Lower Wood, C236 Battery south of Bazentine le Petit Wood and D236 Battery in Bazentine le Petit. The Group Observation Point in 10th Avenue was heavily shelled by 5.9 inch guns during the afternoon. War Diaries 11th of September 1916 Holding the Line   12th of September 1916    12th of September 1916    12th of September 1916    13th of September 1916 Instructions   13th of September 1916  13th of September 1916 Orders   14th of September 1916    14th of September 1916    14th September 1916 15th Division attack   15th Sep 1916 In Action   15th of September 1916 Attack Made   17th of September 1916  17th of September 1916    18th of September 1916    18th of September 1916  20th of September 1916 Poor Conditions   27th of September 1916 Orders   29th of September 1916 Orders   2nd of October 1916 Orders 2nd of October 1916 Orders 9th of October 1916 Working Parties 11th October 1916 Quiet day. 22nd of October 1916 Situation 22nd of October 1916  25th of October 1916 Situation   25th of October 1916 Information Required   25th of October 1916 Orders   26th of October 1916 Orders   26th of October 1916 Orders   30th of October 1916 Orders   31st of October 1916  31st of October 1916 Orders   2nd of November 1916 Heavy Rain 12th of November 1916  20th of November 1916  26th of November 1916  27th of November 1916  27th of November 1916    27th November 1916 Preparing for inspection by the G.O.C. 15th Division. 28th November 1916 Inspection by G.O.C. 15th Division 3rd December 1916 Church Parades 26th of December 1916  27th of November 1916  1st of January 1917    2nd of January 1917  4th of January 1917  8th of January 1917    8th of January 1917    10th of January 1917  12th of January 1917  13th of January 1917  19th of January 1917    19th of January 1917  21st of January 1917  24th of January 1917  24th of January 1917  28th of January 1917    22nd February 1917 15th Division A/55/154 22nd February 1917 15th Division A/55/154 22nd February 1917 Guard of Honour chosen 27th Feb 1917 Relief Complete   8th March 1917 Operational Orders   10th March 1917 Operation Orders   11th March 1917 Operation Orders   1st April 1917 General Instruction   4th Apr 1917 Bombardment Commences 9th Apr 1917 Assault Made 10th April 1917 Defence Scheme    10th April 1917 Message from 46th Brigade as follows :-   11th Apr 1917 Village Taken 12th Apr 1917 Reliefs 20th of April 1917    21st of April 1917    21st of April 1917  22nd April 1917 Operational Order   23rd of April 1917  23rd of April 1917    24th of April 1917    24th of April 1917  24th April 1917 Operational Orders   25th of April 1917    25th of April 1917    1st May 1917 Orders Received   1st May 1917 Operation Order No. 2.   5th May 1917 Operational Orders   8th May 1917 Area around Sus St. Leger. 17th May 1917 Report 22nd May 1917 Brigade moves to Fontaine L'Et Alon area. 27th May 1917 Brigade Tactical Scheme.   6th June 1917 Battalion Orders   6th June 1917 Administrative Order   12th June 1917 Inspected by the G.O.C. 15th Scottish Division. 14th June 1917 Night Operations   18th June 1917 Wail Manouvre area. 20th July 1917 Operational Orders   28th of July 1917 Orders for an Attack   2nd of August 1917 More Orders Received   8th August 1917 Inspected by the G.O.C. 45th Inf. Bde. 22nd Aug 1917 Attack Made   31st August 1917 Operational Orders 22nd September 1917 Operational Orders   2nd October 1917 Training 14th October 1917 Kit reductions. 15th October 1917 Rifles Exchanged 16th October 1917 Rest camp 24th October 1917 Training 26th November 1917 Relief 28th November 1917 Field Firing 6th December 1917 Lewis Gun field firing. 11th December 1917 Div. Office assignment 24th Dec 1917 Reorganisation 31st December 1917 Operational Orders 21st Jan 1918 Course 25th January 1918 Brigade Field day near Wailly. 1st February 1918 General Idea.   5th Feb 1918 Course Ends 13th February 1918 Exercise night advance in open country 13th Feb 1918 Personnel 21st Feb 1918 Reorganisation 19th March 1918 Road making and Fatigues 20th March 1918 Fatigues 26th March 1918 Battle advance 31st of March 1918 Relief Completed   7th Apr 1918 Reorganisation 7th June 1918 Raid Scheme , 15th Division 9th June 1918.   12th July 1918 Preparing to depart to Chan 16th July 1918 Orders 19th July 1918 Operational Order 28th July 1918 Operational Orders No.39 1st August 1918 Operational Orders No.41   18th August 1918 Operational Orders No.51.   18th August 1918 Strong fighting patrols sent out 6th of October 1918    2nd of November 1918    14th November 1918 Inspected by G.O.C. 15th Division ( Major General Reid VC. ) 27th November 1918 'The War: It's cause and effect'. 30th November 1918 Appendix 1. 6th December 1918 Orders   7th December 1918 H.M. The King visits 15th Division. 24th January 1919 Operational Orders No.1. 13th February 1919 The Divisional Commander presents the 15th Divisional Football Championship If you can provide any additional information, please add it here. Want to know more about 15th (Scottish) Division? There are:354 items tagged 15th (Scottish) Division available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War. Those known to have served with 15th (Scottish) Division during the Great War 1914-1918. Beckwith James Moffat. Gnr, 71st Brigade, 225th Battery Caroll Thomas. Pte. 13th Btn. (d.22nd Aug 1917) Foster Jesse Edwin. Pte. 8th Battalion Frew Alexander Ramsay. Sgt. 13th Btn. (d.28th Mar 1918) Gow William. Pte. 13th Btn. (d.29th Sep 1917) Hines John Cecil Newhall. CSM. 10th Btn. Holliday George. Fus. 6th/7th Btn. (d.10th Aug 1916) Howe Henry Arthur. Drv. Jones Richard. Drvr. Lovegrove Arthur Stephen Franklin. Pte. 8th Btn (d.10th Apr 1918) Menzies Andrew. Pte. 10th Btn. (d.27th Jan 1916) Monaghan James. Pte. 12th Battalion Munn William. Sgt. 10th Battalion (d.25th September 1915) Robertson James. Pte. 12th Btn. (d.25th Sep 1915) Smith George. Pte. 8th Btn. (d.28th July 1918) Wateridge William James. Pte. 4th/5th Btn. (d.1st Aug 1918) Watts Jack. Spr. 91st Field Coy. (d.25th Sep 1915) All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List The Wartime Memories Project is the original WW1 and WW2 commemoration website. 1st of September 2023 marks 24 years since the launch of the Wartime Memories Project. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over this time. Want to find out more about your relative's service? Want to know what life was like during the Great War? Our Library contains many many diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. Looking for help with Family History Research?    Please see Family History FAQ's Please note: We are unable to provide individual research. Can you help? The free to access section of The Wartime Memories Project website is run by volunteers and funded by donations from our visitors. If the information here has been helpful or you have enjoyed reaching the stories please conside making a donation, no matter how small, would be much appreciated, annually we need to raise enough funds to pay for our web hosting or this site will vanish from the web. If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation. Announcements 18th April 2024     Please note we currently have a massive backlog of submitted material, our volunteers are working through this as quickly as possible and all names, stories and photos will be added to the site. If you have already submitted a story to the site and your UID reference number is higher than 263925 your submission is still in the queue, please do not resubmit. Wanted: Digital copies of Group photographs, Scrapbooks, Autograph books, photo albums, newspaper clippings, letters, postcards and ephemera relating to the Great War. If you have any unwanted photographs, documents or items from the First or Second World War, please do not destroy them. The Wartime Memories Project will give them a good home and ensure that they are used for educational purposes. Please get in touch for the postal address, do not sent them to our PO Box as packages are not accepted. We are now on Facebook. Like this page to receive our updates, add a comment or ask a question. If you have a general question please post it on our Facebook page. World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great battalion regiment artillery Did you know? We also have a section on World War Two. and a Timecapsule to preserve stories from other conflicts for future generations. 1206615 Sgt. Alexander Ramsay Frew 13th Btn. Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) (d.28th Mar 1918) Alexander Frew was my paternal grandfather's youngest brother. He was born on the 10th of January 1898 in Kinghorn, Fife, and enlisted in the Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)in Kirkcaldy, Fife on the 28th of August 1915, aged 17. He was killed on the 28th of March 1918, aged 20, at the battle of Arras. He is commemorated on the Arras memorial, located in the Faubourg d'Amiens British military cemetery. I have no memory of anyone speaking of Alexander, I only found him while researching my family tree, it's sad that a lot of these hero's were never spoken about by those they left behind. I will remember him. I have no photo of Alexander, but I have one of my grandfather, Thomas McGill Frew, who was a driver in the Army Service Corps. Sgt. Alexander Ramsay Frew served with the 13th Battalion Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) during WW1 and was killed in action on the 28th March 1918 aged 20. He is commemorated on the Arras memorial, located in the Faubourg d'Amiens British military cemetery. He was the was the son of Mrs. Helen Frew, of 64, High St., Kinghorn, Fife. Joyce Strachan Add to this record. 1206471 Pte. William Gow 13th Btn. Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) (d.29th Sep 1917) William Gow was the eldest son of my Great Grandparents William Gow and Marion Holland. He was the eldest of 6 boys. Until the death of my Grandfather, no one knew about William. His mother suffered a stroke on hearing of his death and she died just six months later. His father William, never claimed his medals and they were returned to the War Office under Kings regulations in 1923. William was just 16 years old when he enlisted after Kitchener's appeal for volunteers. At 17 years of age he was deployed on the Western Front in July 1915. In the Autumn he fought in the Battle of Loos over Hill 70. Moving deeper into the Somme, he fought in the battle of Flers-Courcelette and the capture of Martinpuich from the Germans in a surprise attack which rendered very few casualties and little resistance. In 1917 his battalion played their part in the Spring Offensive, emerging from Wellington Cave tunnels in Arras heading toward Blangy in a hard fought battle which resulted in many casualties for the 13th Royal Scots. He survived this battle and little more is known except he died on 29/9/1917. Location and offensive unknown. His name is on the Faubourg D'Amiens British Military Memorial in Arras. Ellen Hackett Add to this record. 1206051 CSM. John Cecil Newhall Hines MC DCM MM. 10th Btn. Gordon Highlanders John Hines served with the 10th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders during WW1. David Collin Add to this record. 261240 Drv. Henry Arthur Howe MM. Royal Field Artillery Henry Howe served as a driver with 15th Divisional Artillery. He was awarded the Military Medal. Keith Howe Add to this record. 259017 Spr. Jack Watts 91st Field Coy. Royal Engineers (d.25th Sep 1915) The Story of Jack Watts, a Boy Soldier (written for my three grandsons, Jack and Sam who live in Melbourne, and Luke who lives in Wellington). Way back in September 1898, a boy was born in Derby, England and he was called Jack Watts. He was the second son of George and Mary Watts (my grandparents) and an older brother to my mother Edie Watts. Jack lived with his parents, brothers, and sisters at 37 Fleet St. in Derby, England. Jack's mother died in 1922, and although she was only 16 my mother had to look after the family. In 1933 when she married Sam Tailby, they also lived at 37 Fleet St. I too lived at 37 Fleet St for 4 years from 1937 but moved with my parents and Grandfather to Spondon, in 1941. In 1912, Jack Watts left school at age 14 and worked as an apprentice in No. 8 shop at the locomotive works in Derby. The locomotive works which was then part of the Midland Railway built and repaired steam locomotives. His father, George, also worked there as a brass turner so must have arranged for Jack to start. By coincidence I also worked there, as an engineering apprentice between 1953 and 1958, including 18 months in No. 8 shop, but I was almost 16 when I started and 18 when I first went into No. 8 shop. It must have been a very daunting place for a 14 year old boy to start work. No. 8 shop (also known as the Erecting Shop) was where the locomotives came in to be repaired after they had been in service for some years. First all the parts were removed, cleaned and where possible reused. Other parts were repaired and where this was not possible new parts used. Most of this work was done in other shops within the works and then the parts were returned to No. 8 shop where the locos were rebuilt. There would have been about 600 people working in No. 8 shop including about 50 apprentices. This was much the same as when I was there except now the locos were larger. Jack would have started work at 7 am and worked until 5.30 pm, with an hour break for lunch on week days, and on Saturday morning worked from 8am until 12. He would have walked to and from work. The work was noisy and often dirty so he would not have been very clean when he got home. No showers at home in those days, only a tin bath in front of the fire. The water had to be heated in kettles. There were 5 other members of the family who also needed a bath when Jack lived there. In August 1914, when Jack would have been 15, almost 16, World War 1 between Great Britain, allied with France, and Germany started. This lasted for 4 years. For some reason that I don't understand and have not been able to find out, Jack and probably some of his friends decided they wanted to join the army. Jack possibly thought it would be a good adventure or maybe to get away from his work at No. 8 shop, but he and his friends certainly did not know what would happen to them. For him and many other boys, joining the army was all wrong as the minimum age was 18 and the recruiting people must have known they were too young. Recruiting officers got 2 shillings and 6 pence for each recruit (equivalent to 25 cents today and a week's wages for an apprentice then). So Jack joined the army, did some basic training and then joined the 91st Field Company of the Royal Engineers as a Sapper. Field Companies generally helped the infantry regiments by building roads, railways, and trenches, but they were also expected to fight with rifles if necessary. Field Companies usually had 220 soldiers of which 5 were officers, 25 were NCOs, 140 were Sappers and the rest were various specialists usually involved with horses, as they had few trucks or cars at the beginning of the war. In July 1915, when he was still only 16, Jack and the 91st Field Company were sent over to France, where they became part of the 15th (Scottish) Division and went to a place called Loos, a small town in northern France near the border with Belgium. On 25th of September 1915, after a long bombardment by British heavy guns, what became known as the 1st Battle of Loos started with an advance by British infantry divisions. Like many others later in the war, the advance did not get very far. We do not know what happened except that Jack was killed (along with thousands of others). Worse still, his body was never found. Many of the soldiers killed in WW1 were buried in France, but Jack does not have a grave. His name is on a big memorial near the town of Loos. So ends the story of a young boy called Jack who wanted to be a soldier. Had he lived, I would have called him Uncle Jack and could possibly have worked with him in No. 8 when I was completing my apprenticeship. Reports produced after the war suggest that some 250,000 Boy Soldiers served with the allied forces during WW1, so Jack Watts was not alone. How many died is not recorded. Later on in WW1, many soldiers from Australia and New Zealand went over to Europe to help the British and French soldiers fight against the Germans. They were known as ANZACs, and the Germans thought they were some of the best soldiers they encountered. Jack Watts' Medals. These were awarded to Jack and presented to his father in 1922. Left to right: The 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal. They were presented to many thousands of British troops after the War but were of little consolation to the parents of the soldiers/boys killed in action. I can remember seeing these when I was a boy but don't know what happened to them. This short story was written with assistance from: Richard Clarke, Roy Branson, Dave Harris all of Derby, and Gary Park of Tauranga, New Zealand. . Mike Tailby Add to this record. 257980 Pte. Jesse Edwin Foster 8th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Jesse Foster was born in the Hastings area of Sussex in 1892. He moved to Scotland in his teens where he married and remained thereafter. He was a gardener, but joined the 8th Seaforths for the duration of WW1 being sent to France in 1916. He was captured after a fierce battle in Ypres on the 22nd August 1917, and was a POW first at Limburg, and then at Dulmen. He was very proud to be a Scot (by marriage and residence) and looked fine in his kilt! Mary Newbery Add to this record. 254518 Pte. James Monaghan 12th Battalion Highland Light Infantry James Monaghan joined up in the first quarter of 1915 at Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow. He fought at the Battle of Loos, Huluch, Pozieres and Flers-Courcelette. There is no further actions after this, presumed captured at Flers-Courcelette, and spent remainder of the war as a POW. Henry Monaghan Add to this record. 250214 Gnr, James Moffat "Moff" Beckwith 71st Brigade, 225th Battery Royal Field Artillery My Grandfather, James Beckwith, went to France in July 1915 aged 33 years. He served in Northern France and Belgium and returned home in 1918. Les Beckwith Add to this record. 249814 Sgt. William Munn 10th Battalion Scottish Rifles (d.25th September 1915) William Munn was killed on the first day of the Battle of Loos. Jamie Mathieu Add to this record. 245322 Pte. George Smith 8th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.28th July 1918) The son of Mr and Mrs H. Smith of South Ockendon in Essex, George Smith enlisted at Southend and was transferred to the 8th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. An Englishman serving in a Scottish Regiment. During the 2nd Battle of the Marne, he served with the French 20th Army Corps as a member of the British 15th (Scottish) Division. George was killed in action on 28th of July 1918 he was 27 years old. His grave is in the British Military Cemetery at Buzancy. Kevin Gray Add to this record. 241575 Drvr. Richard Jones Royal Field Artillery Richard Jones was a young man of 26, born into the mining world of the valleys of South Wales and felt a passion to defend his country against oppression. He enlisted and, after doing his 3 months training in Newcastle at No 1 Depot RFA, was sent to France on 26th December 1915. He was housed at Number 2 Royal Field Artillery General Depot at Havre. From there his movements are sketchy but it is believed that he was assigned to a Royal Field Artillery Unit that may have been in the 23rd Division and the 102nd Brigade Battery with connections to horses. He survived the war and returned back home. A badly damaged left knee during an engagement where he was kicked by a horse may well have saved him from being killed. He was a proud and dignified person who never forgot the values of life and the sacrifice that others gave for their country. Gregory Counsell Add to this record. 218816 Pte. Andrew Menzies 10th Btn. Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (d.27th Jan 1916) Andrew Menzies served with the 10th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and died on the 27th January 1916. He is remembered on the Loos Memorial. Walter Wallace Add to this record. 218102 Pte. Arthur Stephen Franklin Lovegrove 8th Btn Seaforth Highlanders (d.10th Apr 1918) I knew my father had an older brother, Arthur Franklin, but Dad never spoke of him. Only recently have I discovered that his brother served in Seaforth Highlanders 8th Bn . & died in April 1918. He is buried in Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France. I presume he was injured in Battle for Arras in 1917. He died from injuries. I have no idea whether the family have ever visited his grave, as they have all passed on. My Dad came to Australia in 1920 & only had one brief trip back to UK in 1950 & he only had one sister still living then. I was very shocked & dis-appointed that I had never been told of my Uncle's service & death. I have no photos of Arthur. Editors Note: 235272 Private Arthur Stephen Franklin Lovegrove served with the 8th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders during WW1 and died from injuries on the 10th April 1918. He is remembered at Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France. Arthurs medal card records the award of the British War and Victory Medal. It also records him as having served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders - Service number 302443 (no dates recorded). Graham Lovegrove Add to this record. 216084 Pte. William James Wateridge 4th/5th Btn. The Black Watch (d.1st Aug 1918) William James Wateridge, Private S/40618, enlisted in Dunfermline and served in the 4th/5th Battalion, the Black Watch. He died on the 1st August 1918 and is buried in Raperie British Cemetery, Villemontoire. His medal card also records the regimental number 3458 and the award of the War and Victory Medals. William was born in Jarrow 1897, son of Charles Ernest and Matilda Agnes Wateridge nee Wade of 229 Jefferson Street, Newcastle. The 1911 census form records his parents living at 11 Wellesley Street, Jarrow with Charles(38) a papermaker beaterman in a paper mill and Agnes(32) his wife of 14 years. William(13) is their only child and still attending school. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 215737 Pte. James Robertson 12th Btn. Highland Light Infantry (d.25th Sep 1915) James Robertson, Private 18747, enlisted in Glasgow and served with the 12th Battalion the Highland Light Infantry. He is remembered at St Mark's Church and Loos Memorial. His medal card records the award of the 1915 Star, war and Victory Medals and that he was killed in action age 27 on the 25th September 1915. James was born in Jarrow, son of george Spence and Helen Kay Robertson of 55 Cobden Street, Jarrow 1888. In the 1911 census James(23) is a boarder at 13 Thorngrove Road, Upton Park, Essex and works as a Ship Plater in shipbuilders. Vin Mullen Add to this record. 214991 Pte. Thomas Caroll 13th Btn. Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) (d.22nd Aug 1917) Thomas Caroll, enlisted in Alexandria and served with the 13th Battalion Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment), (formerly 23860 Royal Scots Fusiliers). Thomas was born in Jarrow, son of the late Mary Ann Carroll and lived in Bonhill, Dumbartonshire. He died age 45 on the 22nd August 1917. He is remembered at the Tyne Cot Memorial. Vin Mullen Add to this record.

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