JAMES BINNING JEFFREY
416th Field Company
ROYAL ENGINEERS
Rank Sapper
Service number 461604
Date of death 04/09/1918
Place of birth Irvine, Dundonald, Ayrshire
Age 33
Resided Armadale, Linlithgowshire
Enlisted Glencorse, Edinburgh
Medal Entitlement War Medal & Victory Medal
Theatre of death F. & F.
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. H. 34.
Cemetery: QUEANT ROAD CEMETERY, BUISSY
Son of John Maxwell Jeffrey and Marion Binning Jeffrey, and husband of Isabella Malcolm Gordon Jeffrey, of Beech Cottage, Armadale, West Lothian.
James was the husband of Isabella Malcolm Gordon Jeffrey, of Beechwood Cottage, Armadale, West Lothian, and he was the son of John Maxwell Jeffrey and Marion Binning Jeffrey.
James enlisted on the 2nd June 1916, and he had served in France for over 18 months. In April 1917 he was wounded by an enemy Gas shell but soon recovered.
James was a native of Irvine, and he was trained in Irvine Academy and finished his training for a scholastic career in Glasgow Training College in 1912.
GEORGE D JENKINS
5/6th Battalion
ROYAL SCOTS
Rank Private
Service number 251475
Date of death 12/07/1917
Place of birth Blackridge, Linlithgowshire
Age
Resided Blackridge, Linlithgowshire
Enlisted Blackridge, Linlithgowshire
Medal Entitlement War Medal & Victory Medal
Theatre of death F. & F.
Grave/Memorial Reference: IV. D. 16.
Cemetery: RAMSCAPPELLE ROAD MILITARY CEMETERY
George was the brother of Mrs. William Wotherspoon.
Mrs. Wotherspoon received a letter from Lt Dagliesh Royal Scots:
Dear Mrs. Wotherspoon
It is with deepest sympathy that I write you at this time. The death of Pte Jenkins has taken away one of the best boys in my platoon. He was my runner but not with me at the time of his death, being behind with the platoon Sergeant, who was also killed. His duties as a runner were arduous, but he carried on well and faithfully to the end, and should it be any consolation to you, he cannot have had any suffering, as death was instantaneous.
George enlisted in 1916 arriving in France Christmas of the same year.
WILLIAM JENKINS
11th Battalion.
ROYAL SCOTS
Rank Lance Corporal
Service number 25175
Date of death 06/06/1917
Place of birth Falkirk
Age 26
Resided Armadale, Linlithgowshire
Enlisted Bathgate, Linlithgowshire
Medal Entitlement War Medal & Victory Medal
Theatre of death F. & F
Grave/Memorial Reference: Bay 1 and 2.
Cemetery: ARRAS MEMORIAL
Husband of Jeanie Jenkins (Hutton), of 83, West Main St., Armadale, West Lothian.
Son of James and Maggie Jenkins, of 11, Bandrum Cottages, Saline, Fife;
William Jenkins was a popular player with Armadale Football club, and on many occasion it was in a large part due to his fine work that the fair name of the Dale was upheld.
William joined the Army on the 4th June 1915, he enlisted in the 16th Royal Scots (McCraes), and he was wounded and sent home to recuperate in 1916, and was sent back to France in late December 1916 with the 11th Royal Scots and was back in the firing line New Years Day 1917.
Williams wife got a sad shock when a neighbour wife of Pte James McKeown came in to show her a letter from her husband in which he states I am awfully sorry about Willie Jenkins being killed, you will have heard about it now, this was the first information that Mrs Jenkins had received that her husband had been killed. Williams wife also received a series of letters from comrades of her husband each bearing testimony to how much he was esteemed and respected in the Regiment.
Among those received were letters from:
Lance Corporal T Carnegie, who wrote that LCpl Jenkins was the best pal he ever had.
Private William Lowe who had shaken hands with him the night previous to him being killed.
Lance Corporal J Sullivan who felt his loss very keenly as they had been close Friends.
William Jenkins appears on The United Collieries Limited, active service roll 1914-19, this shows him as being employed at Bathville Colliery and being killed in action.
ROBERT JOHNSTON
1st/8th Battalion.
CAMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES)
Rank Private
Service number 291627
Date of death 01/09/1918
Place of birth Armadale, Linlithgowshire
Age 24
Resided Armadale, Linlithgowshire
Enlisted
Medal Entitlement War Medal & Victory Medal
Theatre of death F. & F.
Grave/Memorial Reference: M. 6
Cemetery: WESTOUTRE BRITISH CEMETERY
Brother of John Johnston 5 Mount Pleasant, Armadale.
Writing to Robert Johnstons Brother, Lt E Macaulay says:
I suppose by this time you will have been informed that your brother, who was in my platoon, has been wounded. He was hit by a machine gun bullet in the stomach as we were attacking Kemmell. I was sorry to leave him, he was a jolly good man. He was in charge of a Lewis Gun Section. Only four hours before his being wounded, he had been out with me trying to put a boche machine gun out of action that was giving us a lot of trouble.
Robert joined the Royal Scots in November 1914, and he was later transferred to the Scottish Rifles. Robert went to France in 1916 whilst there he was wounded twice on the later wounding he was sent home to a hospital at home. Once he recovered he was sent to Egypt, where he served for almost two years. He was back in France three months before he was killed.
Prior to his enlisting Robert was a miner and he resided with his parents at Bathville in Armadale, his parents had both died before he was killed.
JAMES JOHNSTONE
9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion.
Highland Light Infantry
Rank Second Lieutenant
Service number
Date of death 17/04/1918
Place of birth Armadale, Linlithgowshire
Age 21
Resided Armadale, Linlithgowshire
Enlisted Bathgate, Linlithgowshire
Medal Entitlement 1914 Star & Bar, War Medal & Victory Medal
Theatre of death F. & F.
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. E. 36.
Cemetery: HARINGHE (BANDAGHEM) MILITARY CEMETERY
Son of James and Isabella Johnstone, of Fernbank Newton, Hallside, Glasgow.
James was a Native of Armadale, West Lothian.
James was a Sergeant in the 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion Highland Light Infantry, Regimental Numbers 3493, 331046.
James went to France on the 27th June 1915, and he was later commissioned on the 31st August 1917,
James was wounded on the 13th April at Neuve Eglise, he later died from his wounds.
PETER JOHNSTONE
2nd Battalion.
ROYAL SCOTS
Rank Private
Service number 2938
Date of death 03/06/1915
Place of birth Armadale, Linlithgowshire
Age
Resided Armadale, Linlithgowshire
Enlisted Bathgate, Linlithgowshire
Medal Entitlement 1914 Star & Bar, War Medal & Victory Medal
Theatre of death F. & F.
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. B. 84.
Cemetery: BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION (NORD)
Son of Mrs. Johnstone Bathville Row Armadale.
Peter Johnstone went to France on the 7th October 1914 and had been at the front eight months until he was killed, he had though been in hospital on two occasions with illness, but on each occasion he was not away from the front line for more than a few days.
Pte Robert Smith of East Main Street Armadale, who is also serving in the 2nd Royal Scots, writing home, said that Pte Johnstone was wounded, the result of shrapnel fire on the 2nd June and died next day.
This information was apparently confirmed in a letter sent by Charles Smith brother of Pte Robert Smith.
Pte Eadie Friel, however also an Armadale man in the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots, writing home states that on the 2nd June Pte Johnstone received two severe wounds on his head, the result of shrapnel fire, and was knocked unconscious. He was taken from the trenches the same night for the hospital. No word had been received as to how Pte Johnstone was progressing.
Pte William Forrester another Armadale boy also confirms statement made by Pte Friel.
The following letter was received from Pte Samuel Gaston, 2nd Royal Scots, who is at present in ward 2, Stobhill Hospital:-
Pte P Johnston went out in the same draft with me. We enlisted on the same day. Peter and I were in the same charge together at Hill 60. he had on that occasion a narrow escape, a bullet from a sniper going through his cap, he turned the Maxim gun in the direction of the sniper, and there was no more sniping from that quarter that day. On the day Peter was killed, he was engaged keeping a lookout in a trench. At dusk he shouted to me, and on looking through a port hole Germans were coming along the parapet with gas tanks on their backs. Only a handful survived, but we lost a good man that day when we lost Peter. He was popular with all the boys, and his death cast a gloom over us all. He was held in high respect by officers and men. He was accorded a military funeral, and amongst those present was myself and Ptes Charles and Robert Smith of his native town. It was the same day after returning from the funeral that I was wounded. I am very sorry for the poor mother who has lost a good son.
Peter Johnstone appears on The United Collieries Limited, active service roll 1914-19, this shows him as being employed at Bathville Colliery and being killed in action Ypres 18/08/1916.
WILLIAM KEEGAN
2nd Battalion.
KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
Rank Corporal
Service number 5853
Date of death 31/10/1914
Place of birth Broom Park Durham
Age
Resided Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Enlisted
Medal Entitlement 1914 Star &Bar, War Medal & Victory Medal
Theatre of death F. & F.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 15
Cemetery: LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Husband of Agnes Keegan Glasgow.
Williams wife Agnes was the daughter of Mr and Mrs Boyd, Cappers Farm, Armadale.
The sad news was conveyed in a letter dated 13th November to Mrs Keigan from the 2nd K.O.S.Bs Chaplain.
William landed in France on the 15th August 1914 with his Battalion.
William had a splendid record as a soldier, having been through the Egyptian and Boer Wars, Mrs Keigan last heard from her husband in early November, his letter being dated 30th October, the day before he was killed.
ISAAC KERR
7th Battalion.
ROYAL SCOTS
Rank Corporal
Service number 276045
Date of death 19/04/1917
Place of birth Glenravel Co Antrim
Age
Resided Blackridge, Linlithgowshire
Enlisted Edinburgh
Medal Entitlement War Medal & Victory Medal
Theatre of death Egypt.
Grave/Memorial Reference: XXVIII. A. 5.
Cemetery: GAZA WAR CEMETERY
WILLIAM KERR
9th Battalion
ROYAL SCOTS
Rank Private
Service number 352450
Date of death 21/04/1917
Place of birth Ballyweany Co Antrim
Age
Resided Blackridge, Linlithgowshire
Enlisted Edinburgh
Medal Entitlement War Medal & Victory Medal
Theatre of death F & F
Grave/Memorial Reference: Bay 1 and 2.
Cemetery: ARRAS MEMORIAL
Sons of Alexander and Sarah Kerr, Skerry East, Newtowncrommelin, County Antrim.
William and Isaac both resided with Mr Jamieson at Westrigg prior to enlisting into the Army. William and Isaac were both active members of Blackridge Pipe Band, from its inauguration Isaac acted as Band Secretary and Treasurer, and later on he was Pipe Major.
William and Isaac enlisted in the 3rd/6th Royal Scots together in 1914, both were in the Regimental Band during training, but when they went on active service Isaac was transferred to a different Battalion.
Isaac and William Kerr both appear on The United Collieries Limited, active service roll 1914-19, this shows them both being employed at Westrigg Colliery.
THOMAS KNOWLES
2nd Battalion
HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY
Rank Private
Service number 8081
Date of death 16/05/1915
Place of birth Boness
Age
Resided Blackridge, Linlithgowshire
Enlisted Edinburgh
Medal Entitlement 1915 Star, War Medal & Victory Medal
Theatre of death F & F
Grave/Memorial Reference: VIII. H. 39.
Cemetery: GUARDS CEMETERY, WINDY CORNER, CUINCHY
Husband of Mrs Knowles 6 Upper Craig Terrace, Blackridge.
Thomas rejoined his Regiment on the 11th August, and landed at Le Harve on the 18th December 1914. Thomas had served over 21 years in total with his Regiment, two years and four months of this he spent in South Africa during the Boer War. Thomas said that the Boer War was like a Picnic when compared with the Great War.
On the 31st January 1915 a shell burst just in front on the trench Thomas was in he did not know what had hit him, but when he recovered consciousness he was in the hospital at the base. Shortly afterwards he was invalided home.
Private Knowles stated when he was home that the hardships endured by the men in the trenches are not over exaggerated, as it is quite a common sight to see men standing up to their middle in water. He thought the Gerris must have had pumps in their trenches as the Huns he had seen taken prisoner were always dry and clean.
Mrs Knowles received the following letter from Pte R Blyth 1st Highland Light Infantry:
Dear Madam,
It is with great regret that I write these few lines to you to inform you of the death your husband, who was killed in action on the 16th, and was buried the day after. I wish to convey to you the deepest sympathy of all his old comrades in your bereavement. I hope it will be some comfort for you to know that he died without pain, and that he died serving his country. I enclose a photograph of yourself and family which your husband carried with him, and which we often admired. We feel that it is hard for such a young family to be deprived of their dad. I hope that you will bear up in your sad bereavement.
Note:
8341 Cpl Robert Blyth MM 2nd H.L.I was Killed in action 02/12/1917, He was born in Edinburgh, and enlisted Hamilton.
Thomas Knowles appears on The United Collieries Limited, active service roll 1914-19, this shows him as being employed at Blackrigg 3 Colliery and being killed in action. (Also shows his rank as Corporal)
THOMAS LAWSON
1st/6th Battalion
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Rank Private
Service number 5844
Date of death 26/09/1916
Place of birth Bothwell Lanarkshire
Age 24
Resided Blackridge, Linlithgowshire
Enlisted
Medal Entitlement War Medal & Victory Medal
Theatre of death F & F
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 15 A and 16 C.
Cemetery: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Son of the late Stewart and Annie Lawson, and Brother of William Lawson, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Prior to enlisting in December 1915, Thomas was employed at Blackrigg no3 Colliery and he resided at 119 Westcraigs, Blackridge with Mrs Mackay.
WILLIAM LECKIE
H.M.S. Dominion
ROYAL NAVY
Rank Stoker 2nd Class
Service number K/42450
Date of death 21/12/1917
Place of birth Armadale, Linlithgowshire
Age 29
Resided Ayr
Enlisted
Theatre of death Home
Grave/Memorial Reference: F. 2036.
Cemetery: AYR CEMETERY
Son of Robert and Helen Leckie of Armadale.
Husband of Sarah Miller Hamilton Leckie, of 97, High St., Ayr.
William was a miner in Ayr before enlisting in the Navy on 2 May 1917, he enlisted for the duration of hostilities.
William was severely injured in a boiler explosion onboard HMS Dominion in December 1917. William died in the Royal Navy Hospital at Chatham on 21st December from injuries resulting from the boiler explosion.
WILLIAM LIDDELL
5th Battalion
TANK CORPS
Formerly
2263
Royal Scots
Rank Private
Service number 69816
Date of death 03/10/1918
Place of birth Westfield, Linlithgowshire
Age 27
Resided
Enlisted Armadale, Linlithgowshire
Medal Entitlement War Medal & Victory Medal
Theatre of death F & F
Grave/Memorial Reference: VII. D. 5.
Cemetery: BELLICOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
Son of the late John and Janet Liddell, of Strathavon Cottage, Westfield, husband of Georgina Baxendale Liddell, of 11, Fetters Lane, Tweedmouth, Berwickshire.
Williams wife received the following letter from Sergeant Frank Hancock:
22nd October
It is with deepest regret that I have to inform you that your husband has been killed in action. I was driving the tank. We had been fighting for about three hours, and had nearly reached our second objective which, had it been secured, would have completed our task for the day. Our Tank was hit by an enemy shell. The shell hit the rear of the Tank completely disabling it, but without hurting any of the crew. Our Machine Guns were all out of action, and ammunition for the Six Pounder gun, which your husband had done great service with, almost exhausted. There was nothing left for us to do but to evacuate the Tank and make a running fight for it. We were surrounded by enemy infantry, but hoped to get to our lines all right. We first used a number of bombs to make a smoke screen in order to help our retreat. Under the screen, as prearranged, we scattered, each man looking after himself. I was the last to leave the Tank, and was not far from your husband when he fell, shot through the head with machine gun bullets. I stayed by him just long enough to ascertain he was dead. Next day an officer member of the crew, and myself went off and buried him beside the Tank, and put a cross at his head. Your husband and I had been in a good many actions together, and I always found him a true and congenial comrade. I feel I have lost a real friend.
WILLIAM LIDDLE
6th Battalion
KINGS OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
Rank Private
Service number 202604
Date of death 18/08/1918
Place of birth Torphichen, Linlithgowshire
Age 25
Resided Armadale, Linlithgowshire
Enlisted Beith, Ayr
Medal Entitlement War Medal & Victory Medal
Theatre of death F. & F.
Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 5.
Cemetery: PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Husband of Mrs Liddle St Helens Place, South Street Armadale.
William was called up in early 1916, prior to this he was a carter with the United Collieries Ltd.
William leaves a wife and one young child.