S/5966 Pte John Tevendale, 11th Bn, A&S Highlanders

S/5966 Private John Tevendale of the 11th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders was killed in action on the 3rd October 1917. He was born in Aberdeen and enlisted in Glasgow on the 19th October 1914. He was then 26 years old, a plasterer by trade, just short of five feet eight inches tall with a pale complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. The medical officer examining him notes a "linear scar on the left side [of his] nose [and a] small circular scar [on his] r[ight] forearm."

John was initially posted to the 10th Battalion and sailed for France with the 10th on the 11th May 1915. He was appointed unpaid lance corporal on the 11th January 1916 and then paid acting lance corporal the following month (24th). He returned to England on the 13th April 1916 as a result of a gunshot wound to his scalp and spent three weeks at the Edinburgh War Hospital. The wound appears to have healed well, although "some degree of vertigo" is noted. He was subsequently posted to the 3rd Battalion on the 8th August that year.

On the 16th May 1917, Private Tevendale was tried by a Regimental Courts Martial for "without reasonable excuse allowing to escape a person committed to his charge." He was found guilty and was sentenced to 14 days' detention.

The following month, on the 17th June, John Tevendale was back in France and posted to the 11th Battalion. Less than four months later he was killed in action. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes that he was 28 years old, the son of George and Helen Campbell Tevendale of 364 Govan Street, Glasgow. He is buried in the Level Crossing Cemetery at Fampoux in France.

In February 1918, George Tevendale acknowledged receipt from the infantry office in Perth, of his late son's wallet and photos.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC, WO 363)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Lt Robert Merlin Graham Aytoun, A & S Highlanders

Lieutenant Robert Merlin Graham Aytoun of the 2nd Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, died of wounds on the 27th August 1914. He was 24 years old and the son of Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Aytoun. He is buried in Le Cateau Communal Cemetery.

The Bond of Sacrifice carried the following small biography of him:

"... previously reported unofficially as killed in action, died, as has since been ascertained, in Le Cateau Town Hospital (French Red Cross), on the 27th August, 1914, of wounds received the previous day while leading his platoon. He was the only child of Lieutenant-Colonel and Mrs. Andrew Aytoun, and was born on the 19th January, 1890. He was gazetted to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in May 1910 and was promoted Lieutenant in July 1911."


At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Officers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

300913 Cpl Archibald Morrison, 1/8th Bn, A&S Highlanders

300913 Corporal Archibald Morrison of the 1/8th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, was killed in action on the 16th May 1917. He was born in Taynuilt, Argyllshire, and was the son of Mrs Mary Campbell of Pass of Brander, Taynuilt. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

Archibald's age at death is recorded as 18. His number - original number 2768 - dates to January 1915 which means that at best he was 17 when he joined up, or younger still. This may have been discovered by the authorities as he certainly did not proceed overseas until 1916 at the earliest.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC, WO 363)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

9455 Cpl Adam McLachlan, 11th Bn, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

9455 Corporal Adam McLachlan of C Company, the 11th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders was killed in action on the 8th March 1917. He was born in Paisley and was living in Glasgow when he enlisted. His number dates to around the 3rd June 1915.

Adam arrived overseas on or after 1st January 1916 and presumably remained in France until he was killed in March the following year. He was 28 years old, the son of Adam and Janet McLachlan, of Maryhill, and the husband of Elizabeth Devine McLachlan, of 113, Burnhouse Street, Maryhill, Glasgow.

Adam McLachlan is buried in Fauberg D'Amiens Cemetery in France.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission