Category Archives: Scotland

Berkshire, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, illness, photography, Private, Ross-shire, Royal Fusiliers, Scotland, story, war

Private Geoffrey St Quintin

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Private Geoffrey St Quintin

Geoffrey Hugh Willoughby St Quintin was born in Cromarty, Ross-shire, on 17th November 1899. The second of two children (although his older sister Doris had died two years before he was born), his parents were Geoffrey and Muriel St Quintin.

Geoffrey Sr was an estate manager and the 1901 census showed the family having eight live-in servants. Geoffrey Jr was then sent off to a private prep school in Wokingham, Berkshire.

The next census return, taken in 1911, found Geoffrey Sr was visiting his brother at Scampston Hall in North Yorkshire. Muriel, meanwhile, was staying with her cousin Eliza Willoughby, the wife of Baron Middleton. Between the two residences, there was a retinue of some 23 servants.

Geoffrey Sr died in 1913, and his son went on to attend Eton College. When war broke out he stepped up to serve his country, joining the Royal Fusiliers.

Ross-shire friends, especially in the Cromarty and Fortrose districts, will regret the death from heart failure, following pneumonia and influenza, of Geoffrey Hugh Willoughby St Quintin, son of the late Mr Geoffrey St Quintin, and of Mrs Geoffrey St Quintin, Flowerburn, Fortrose. He died in London just prior to an intended visit to Scampston, Yorks., to the home of his uncle, Mr WH St Quintin. Born at Cromarty House nineteen years ago, growing up into a young manhood of great strength and stature, he was well known and very popular in Ross-shire, where he passed the greater part of his young life. On leaving Eton College he was appointed to a cadetship in the Household Brigade, Officers’ Cadet Battalion, with the intention of joining the Guards, and was qualifying for his commission at Bushey, Herts., where he contracted his illness. He was a right gallant young gentleman, and everywhere a favourite…

A sad circumstance was the death on the day of the funeral of his devoted old nurse, Miss Johan Fraser, who was with him during his illness and contracted the influenza which carried her away.

[North Star and Farmer’s Chronicle: Saturday 21st December 1918]

Geoffrey Hugh Willoughby St Quintin was just 19 years of age when he passed away. His body was taken to Eton for burial, and he was laid to rest in the village’s St John’s Churchyard.

Able Seaman, Berkshire, Boy, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, Merchant Navy, Middlesex, Ordinary Seaman, photography, Royal Navy, Scotland, story, war

Able Seaman Albert Clements

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Able Seaman Albert Clements

In spite of unpropitious weather, an exceedingly large number of people of all classes paid a last tribute to Able-Seaman Albert Edward Clements, at Eton, on Saturday last. The deceased, whose home was at 3, Tangier-lane, Eton, was on HMS Princess Royal, which took part in the naval fight in the North Sea, and he as severely injured by burns. He was taken on board HM Hospital Ship Plassy, but died on 31st May, and his remains were brought home on Thursday evening last week from Scotland. Clements as a boy showed an affection for the sea, and when old enough joined the merchant service and made several voyages. Five years ago from the day he was laid to rest he joined the Navy, and was at first on HMS Warspite and afterwards on the ship on which he received his mortal wounds. He was a loyal and devoted son, and after the death of his father three years ago was of great assistance to his mother. His father was for 29 years in the Royal service at Frogmore and consequently served under three Sovereigns – Queen Victoria, King Edward and King George. His elder brother, Charles George, was in the Oxford and Bucks LI, and was killed at Loos a year ago. The Admiralty, through pressure, was not able to send a representative, but his mother had received from that department a letter expressing its sympathy and appreciation of his services. A letter of sympathy has also been received from the King.

[Windsor and Eton Express: Saturday 17th June 1916]

The early life of Albert Edward Clements is a challenge to piece together. Born in 30th October 1896 in Marylebone, details of his parents are unclear and, by the time of the 1901 census, he seems to have been adopted by his paternal grandparents, George and Louisa. By this point the family were living at 4 Sunbury Road, Eton, the household being made up of Albert, his grandparents, and his four uncles and aunts.

At 45 years of age, George was a gardener’s labourer, but, as the newspaper report suggests, Albert had a hankering for the sea. He served on merchant vessels, but enlisted in the Royal Navy on 12th June 1912. Sent to HMS Ganges – the training base near Ipswich, Suffolk – he was given the Rank of Boy 2nd Class, as he was too young to formally join up.

By January 1913, Albert was assigned to the dreadnought battleship HMS St Vincent. Within four months he had moved to the heavy cruiser-turned-aircraft carrier HMS Vindictive. By the end of the year, however, Boy Clements received his main move, to HMS Princess Royal.

Albert was formally inducted in the Royal Navy on 28th May 1914, and was given the rank of Ordinary Seaman. His service records notes that he was 5ft 5ins (1.65m) tall, with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was also recorded as having a birth mark on the back of his left arm.

Princess Royal would remain Albert’s home for more than three years and, on 1st April 1915, he received a promotion to Able Seaman. His ship would be involved in some of the Royal Navy’s fiercest skirmishes, including Heligoland Bight and Dogger Bank, but it was during the Battle of Jutland, on the night of the 31st May 1916, that Albert was injured and died of his wounds. He was just 19 years of age.

The hospital ship Plessy brought the body of Albert Edward Clements back to shore, and he was taken home to Berkshire for burial. He was laid to rest in the cemetery of St John’s Church in Eton.

Commonwealth War Graves, Devon, Great War, history, illness, Lincolnshire, New Zealand, New Zealand Machine Gun Corps, photography, Private, Scotland, South Africa, story, war, Wiltshire

Private Patrick O’Neill

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Private Patrick O’Neill

Patrick Thomas O’Neill was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 2nd March 1888. Little information is available about his early life, but the Commonwealth War Graves Commission confirms he was the son of Jane O’Neill, and the family lived at 151 Taranaki Street.

When he completed his schooling, Patrick found work as a driver for Munt, Cotterell & Co. A large transport and cartage company, when the First World War broke out, they became involved in transporting supplies to the military camp at Trentham. Because of this connection, many of the company’s workers – Patrick included – enlisted.

Patrick’s service papers show that he joined up 22nd August 1916. His medical confirms that he was 5ft 4.5ins (1.64m) tall and had fair hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion.

After his training at Trentham, Private O’Neill’s unit – the New Zealand Machine Gun Corps – left Wellington for Europe. After a week’s break in Simon’s Town, South Africa, their ship – the Walmer Castle – arrived in Devonport, Devon, on 27th March 1917. During the second part of the voyage, Patrick was admitted to the ship’s hospital, for an infestation of pubic lice.

The voyage from New Zealand to Britain had taken nearly three months, so when the regiment finally arrived at their camp in Sling, Wiltshire, it must have been something of a relief. For Private O’Neill, however, it marked the beginning of a regular pattern of misdemeanours.

In April 1917, Patrick moved to a base in Tidworth. A matter of weeks later, he went AWOL, and forfeited three days’ pay as a result. Private O’Neill was then sent to Grantham, Lincolnshire, where the ANZAC united had their machine gun training base. Over the next two months, he went AWOL on four separate occasions, resulting in him losing a total of 10 days’ pay and, for the final absence, 96 hours’ detention.

Private O’Neill disappearances seem to have been those of a lad about town: a couple of days after his final return, he was admitted to the venereal section of the camp hospital in Grantham. His condition – and probably his behaviour – was such that he was transferred back to Wiltshire, and admitted to the No. 3 New Zealand General Hospital near Codford.

Private O’Neill was not done, however. On 6th December 1917, and having been discharged back to his unit just a day before, he went AWOL again, this time in spectacular fashion. He was arrested by military police in Edinburgh on 14th January 1918. Taken in handcuffs back to Codford, he forfeited 71 days’ pay – plus a 2s fine for his arrest – and punished with 90 days in the cells.

Patrick’s imprisonment began on the 1st March 1918, but it was a sentence he would not complete. On 16th May, he was taken from his cell and admitted to the camp hospital, once again to the venereal section. Less than a week later, he was dead, having suffered an embolism. Private O’Neill was 30 years of age when he passed, on 21st May 1918.

The body of Patrick Thomas O’Neill was laid to rest in the extension to St Mary’s Church, Codford, not far from the base in which he had been incarcerated and hospitalised.

Armourer, Armourer's Crew, Armourer's Mate, Chief Armourer, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, Hampshire, history, illness, Kent, photography, Royal Navy, Scotland, story, war

Chief Armourer William Dimmick

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Chief Armourer William Dimmick

William Henry Dimmick was born in Titchfield, Hampshire, on 10th November 1871. The oldest of four children, his parents were John and Harriett Dimmick. John was a butcher, but when he completed his schooling, he became chose a different path.

The 1891 census recorded William as lodging with the Merritt family in Clanfield, to the north of Waterlooville, Hampshire. He was employed as a blacksmith, but either this was a means to an end, or he had itchy feet.

On 30th June 1893, William enlisted in the Royal Navy. Part of the Armourer’s Crew, his service records show that he was 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall, with light hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion. He was sent to HMS Excellent, the shore base on Whale Island in the Solent, and she would become the home to which he would return over the next few years.

Armourer’s Crew Dimmick’s contract was for twelve years and, during that time, he would serve on five separate ships. A lot of his time, however, was spent ashore, and his service papers note spells at both HMS Wildfire and HMS Pembroke, both on the North Kent Coast.

William’s time was not mis-spent, however, and he started to rise through the ranks. On 20th April 1897 he was promoted to Armourer’s Mate; in November 1898 he was made an Armourer. On 1st November 1902 he rose to Acting Chief Armourer, a role that was made permanent twelve months later.

Away from work, William found love. He married Florence Dunford in around 1902, and the couple would go on to have three children – William Jr, John and Florence Jr – between 1902 and 1911.

When William’s contract came to an end, he immediately re-enlisted. Over the next few years, he was given five more postings, before being assigned to HMS Natal in September 1912. An armoured cruiser, she was attached to the Grand Fleet during the First World War, but did not take part in any battles.

On 30th December 1915, Natal was moored in the Cromarty Firth, when an internal explosion from faulty cordite ripped her apart. She sank, and at least 390 crew and civilians were killed.

The next record for William is that of his passing – from pneumonia, at home, on 28th January 1916. He was 45 years of age. It is unclear whether he had been on board Natal a month before, and whether there was any connection between his illness and the explosion.

The family were living in Sheerness, Kent, at the time of William’s death, His body, however, was laid to rest in the naval section of Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, not far from HMS Pembroke, the dockyard in Chatham, Kent, which he had called home for some time.

accident, Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Great War, history, photography, Private, Royal Scots Fusiliers, Scotland, story, war

Private George Wallace

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Private George Wallace

In the town cemetery of Gillingham, Dorset, is the grave of Private G Wallace of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, who died on 14th April 1915. His entry in the British Register of Soldiers’ Effects confirms his first name as George, and that he died on the town’s Leatham Red Cross Hospital. Private Wallace was recorded as being in the 8th Battalion, and his beneficiary was noted as being his father, James.

Unfortunately, beyond this, there is little concrete information about George’s early life: his regiment would suggest that he was born north of the border, but, without a year or location of birth, it is impossible to narrow down the documentation.

A newspaper report does, however, confirm how his life came to an end:

An inquest was held at the Drill Hall on Friday morning, on the body of Private George Wallace, of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, who died at the Gillingham Red Cross Hospital as a result of injuries by the kick of a horse at Codford Camp… Corporal James Doig, of the 12th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, said the accident occurred on the Wednesday, April 7th. The stable was only an open shed, and deceased was going up the near side of the horse when it let our and kicked Wallace in the pit of the stomach and knocked him over. He fell in towards the stall among the feet of the horse, which let out again and caught him in the head. While witness went to the horse’s head another witness Private O’Neil, hauled Wallace our. When Wallace was pulled out O’Neil took him to the field hospital, where he managed to walk with some assistance. Lieutenant WE Hopkins, RAMC, proved attending to the deceased as far as possible. There were no facilities for serious cases, and, thinking it was only a case of slight concussion, he had the deceased sent to the Gillingham Red Cross Hospital. If he had been aware it was a fracture of the skull, he should have sent the case to Salisbury Infirmary. The field hospital was only a detention ward, with no hot or cold water supply and no instruments. He cleaned the wound in the head as far as possible. Dr Huntly said he examined the deceased at the Gillingham Hospital. The skull was fractured, and everything was done for him by himself and Dr Morgan, but he died from septic inflammation. If the wound had been “sweet” it would have given him a better chance after the operation was performed. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

[Southern Times and Dorset County Herald: Saturday 24th April 1915]

The body of George Wallace was laid to rest in Gillingham Cemetery, not far from the hospital in which he had died.

Bombardier, Commonwealth War Graves, Dorset, Great War, Gunner, history, illness, Kent, photography, Royal Field Artillery, Scotland, story, war

Gunner William Taylor

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Gunner William Taylor

Military honours were paid to Bombardier W Taylor, of the 59th Battery, RFA, who succumbed to an attack of double pneumonia in the VAD Hospital on Saturday at the age of 23. The funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon in the presence of a large gathering, including some from each battery billeted in the town, to the number of nearly 200. The service, which was a most impressive one, was conducted by the Vicar (Red. WEH Sotheby). The deceased came with a draft from Glasgow over a fortnight ago and soon got his first stripe; but it was willed that he should rise no higher, as the day after he received his first promotion he was taken to the hospital. A tribute of respect was paid to him from each battery in the shape of wreaths subscribed for by the men.

[Southern Times and Dorset County Herald: Saturday 23rd January 1915]

William John Taylor was born in St Helier, Jersey, in 1883. He was the only child to John Lebanon Taylor and his wife, Margaret. John had been born ‘at sea’ and was a writer for the Royal Arsenal. His work had taken him to the Channel Islands, and this is where he met and married Margaret in the autumn of 1882.

By the time of the 1901 census, the Taylor family had moved back to the mainland, and were living at 12 Mineral Street, Plumstead, Kent. William had finished his schooling by this point, and was employed as a commercial clerk.

William disappears from the 1911 census, while his parents had moved to a larger property at 101 Tuam Road, Plumstead. John was now listed as an army pensioner, and it was just him and Margaret living in the house.

By this point, William’s trail had gone completely cold. When war broke out he was called on to play his part, and the newspaper report, while giving an incorrect age, does outline what would seem to be his time in the army. He passed away in the Red Cross Hospital in Gillingham, Dorset, on 16th January 1915: he was 31 years of age.

John appears to have passed away by this point too, and it seems possible, that Margaret was unable to cover the cost of bringing her son back to Kent. Instead, Gunner William Taylor (his rank before the promotion to Bombardier was formally recorded) was laid to rest in Gillingham Cemetery, close to the hospital where he had died.

Caithness, Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, Lanarkshire, photography, Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Reserves, Scotland, sister, story, unknown, war, West Midlands

Sister Christina Jack

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Sister Christina Jack

Christina Jack was born in Thurso, Caithness, Scotland, on the 19th December 1882. One of eight children, her parents were Donald and Margaret Jack. Donald was a merchant and rope maker, and the family lived on Bank Street, to the north of the town centre.

Margaret died in 1907, by which point Christina had taken a job in nursing. The 1911 census found her in Govan, Lanarkshire, where she was employed as a registered general nurse. When war broke out, she volunteered to do her duty, and joined the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service.

Sister Jack remained on home soil, and was attached to the 1st Birmingham War Hospital in Rednal. Nursing staff were vulnerable to the infections and diseases of the men they were treating, and it appears that Christina was not immune to this. She passed away on 22nd October 1918, at the age of 35 years old.

The body of Christina Jack was taken back to Caithness for burial. She was laid to rest in Thurso Cemetery, on the outskirts of the town in which she had been born and raised.

Commonwealth War Graves, Great War, history, injury, Kent, killed in action, Lanarkshire, photography, Royal Naval Reserve, Scotland, Stoker, story, war

Stoker Neil Moore

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Leading Stoker Neil Moore

Neil Moore was born on 17th April 1882 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire. One of twelve children, he was the second son to John and Jane Moore. John was a cabinetmaker and, according to the 1891 census, the family lived in rooms at 13 Melville Street in the city’s Govan district.

Although little is known about Neil’s early life, his enlistment in the Royal Naval Reserve on 26th July 1904 offers the first clear insight into the young man he had become. His service papers describe him as twenty-two years old, 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) tall, with grey eyes and fair hair.

Over the next decade, Stoker Moore travelled the world, taking in Canada and South America. There were times when he was out of work – he was recorded as seeking a job over the winter of 1912 – but generally his employment appears to have been steady.

Intriguingly, after a stint on the SS Sardinian, Neil left the Royal Naval Reserve on 17th November 1913. He was re-engaged on 17th December, but is then reported as having deserted just three days later. He was then recorded as being assigned to HMS Wildfire – a shore base in Northwood, Middlesex – on 3rd February 1914.

It is possible that it was around this time that Neil got married. His wife was called Elizabeth, but there is little further information about her.

When war broke out, Stoker Moore appears to have been formally mobilised once more. Over the next three years, he served on half-a-dozen vessels, before finally being attached to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, in the spring of 1917.

Over the course of that summer, Pembroke was hit by two significant challenges. The battleship HMS Vanguard was sunk in Scapa Flow, leaving its planned replacement crew stuck in the Kent dockyard with nowhere to go. At the same time, a bout of spotted fever broke out and more space was needed to slow the transmission of the contagious disease.

Pembroke’s Drill Hall was brought into use as temporary accommodation, and this is where, in September 1917, Stoker Moore found himself billeted.

On the night of the 3rd September, the German air force carried out an audacious raid on North Kent. Four aircraft bombed Chatham, and two devices landed direct hits on the Drill Hall. The glass roof shattered, raining shards onto the sleeping men below. Stoker Moore was badly injured, and he was transported to the town’s Royal Naval Hospital for treatment. Sadly, this would prove ineffective, and Neil died from his injuries on 8th September 1917. He was 35 years of age.

The body of Neil Moore was taken back to Scotland for burial. He was laid to rest in St Kentigern’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, to the north of the city centre.

[Note: the photo above is of the memorial to the Chatham Air Raid victims, close to the mass grave for those whose bodies were not identified, in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.]

Commonwealth War Graves, County Durham, Great War, history, Kent, killed in action, Midlothian, Orkney, photography, Royal Naval Reserve, Scotland, Staffordshire, Stoker, story, war

Stoker Samuel Hadley

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Stoker Samuel Hadley

Samuel Hadley was born in Bilston, Staffordshire, on 1st July 1892. The fifth of six children, his parents were Edward and Mary Hadley. Edward worked in the local iron works and, the family lived on Cross Street, to the south of the town centre.

Opportunities awaited elsewhere, however, and by the time of the 1911 census, the Hadley family had moved to Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham. Iron foundries were a key industry in the area, and census found four members of the household – Samuel, his two older brothers, Edward Jr and Matthew, and father Edward Sr – all employed at the Bowesfield Steel Works. The house at 28 Grove Street was crowded, with Thomas Green, another foundry worker, also boarding there.

When war broke out, all three brothers enlisted. Samuel joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 15th January 1915, and was sent to HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, for his training. His papers show that he was a little under 5ft 9ins (1.75m) tall, with brown eyes and a fair complexion. He had a scar on his left leg following an operation for varicose veins.

Over the next two years, Stoker Hadley served on three vessels – the depot ships HMS Tyne, HMS Crescent and HMS Royal Arthur. All three served in Scottish waters, and Samuel spent time in the Firth of Forth and Scapa Flow. By the summer of 1917, however, he was back in Kent, billeted at HMS Pembroke while he awaited his next posting.

Chatham Dockyard was a bustling and packed place at that point in the war. The battleship HMS Vanguard had been sunk, and its replacement crew were stuck at Pembroke while the authorities organised alternative attachments. There was also an outbreak of spotted fever, and the precautions were taken to space out the crowded barracks. Stoker Hadley found himself billeted in temporary accommodation in the base’s Drill Hall.

On the 3rd September 1917, the first night air raid carried out by the German Air Force bombarded Chatham. Two bombs landed squarely on the Drill Hall, and Stoker Hadley was among the dozens of sleeping men to be killed. He was just 25 years of age.

The body of Samuel Hadley was taken back to Stockton-on-Tees for burial. He was laid to rest in the town’s Oxbridge Lane Cemetery.

Samuel’s older brother Matthew chose the army when he enlisted. A Private in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, he was attached to the 11th Battalion. By the spring of 1917, he was caught up in the Arras Offensive. He was killed on the opening day of the First Battle of the Scarpe. Private was 27 years of age, and is commemorated Arras Memorial.

[Note: the photo above is of the memorial to the Chatham Air Raid victims, close to the mass grave for those whose bodies were not identified, in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.]

Aberdeenshire, Commonwealth War Graves, Engineman, Great War, history, injury, Kent, Midlothian, photography, Royal Naval Reserve, Scotland, story, war

Engineman John Foreman

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Engineman John Foreman

John Kerr Foreman was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, on 18th December 1878. The son of Thomas and Jessie, details of his early life are sparse. The 1881 census records him living on York Street with Jessie, while the next return notes him as living just round the corner at 4 Links Street with his paternal grandfather, Jessie Kerr.

Thomas’ absence from the documents would suggest that he was away at the time the details were taken. John’s grandfather was a fish labourer, and the family lived next to the port. It is likely that Thomas was a fisherman or part of a boat crew, and a life at sea was something that his son also fell into.

John does not appear on either the 1901 or 1911 census returns. In the early 1900s he married Lily Craig, the daughter of another fish worker. They went on to have five children between 1905 and 1916 but, like her husband, there is no record of Lily or the family in the early 20th century.

When war broke out, John stepped up to play his part. Joining the Royal Naval Reserve – another hint at an undocumented life at sea – on 26th May 1916, his papers note that he was 5ft 8ins (1.73m) tall, with grey eyes and a fair complexion. He was also recorded as having a number of tattoos: a pierced heart, thistle and the word Scotland on his right arm, and an anchor and his initials on his left.

Engineman Foreman’s time in the navy was actually spent on shore. For eighteen months he was attached to HMS Gunner, the shore base at Granton Harbour, near Edinburgh. In August 1917, however, he was transferred south. He arrived at his new home, HMS Pembroke, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, on 4th August 1917.

The dockyard was a particularly busy place that summer, and temporary accommodation was set up. John found himself billeted at Chatham Drill Hall, away from the main barracks.

On the night of 3rd September 1917, Chatham suddenly found itself in the firing line, as the German Air Force launched a bombing raid. One of the bombs landed squarely on the Drill Hall, and Engineman Foreman was badly injured. He was taken the naval hospital in the town, but died from his injuries the following day. He was 38 years old.

The body of John Kerr Foreman was taken back to Scotland for burial. He was laid to rest in Aberdeen’s Trinity Cemetery, a short walk from where his family still lived.

Engineman John Foreman
(from findacrage.com)

[Note: the photo above is of the memorial to the Chatham Air Raid victims, close to the mass grave for those whose bodies were not identified, in Woodlands Cemetery, Gillingham, Kent.]