In Memory of the Fallen 1914-1918
Holytown and New Stevenston

Excerpts:

6673 Pte Hugh ADAIR

Kings Own Scottish Borderers 6th Battalion

Hugh was killed in action on the 8th of July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. Hugh's unit took part in the fighting at Bernafay Wood the day he was killed so he probably fell there. He was part of the 26th Brigade 9th Division and was previously wounded in the early part of 1915. Hugh was in his 22nd year and enlisted in the K.O.S.B. on the 1st of January 1915 and before the war was employed in Anderson's Boiler Works Carfin. He was born in Coalhall, Jerviston, Holytown District, and his wife resided at Low Biggans, Clydesdale Road, Mossend when the report of Hugh's death was received. Hugh has no known grave and is commemorated on the -THIEPVAL MEMORIAL - Somme, France.

 

58119 Pte Archibald ALEXANDER

Black Watch 2nd Battalion

Archie was killed in action during the Battle of Loos on the 25th of September 1915, aged 19. He was born in Bothwell village, Lanarkshire and enlisted at Hamilton. He was the son of Archibald and Kate Alexander of Shearer's Buildings, Holytown. Archie has no known grave and is commemorated on the -LOOS MEMORIAL - Pas de Calais, Panel 78 to 83.

 

176234 Dvr John Nelson ALLAN

Royal Field Artillery 52nd Brigade

John died of wounds in Belgium, on the 29th of July 1917, aged 33. He was an ex pupil of Holytown Public School and was apprenticed to the slating trade and up to the time he joined the army he was in the employment of his uncle, Mr Robert Allan, slater and plasterer, Main Street, Holytown. Pte Allan was the son of David and Mary Allan, Holytown. John was an enthusiastic curler with the Woodhall Club, was a keen carpet bowler and a loyal member of Masonic Lodge " Robert King Stewart " New Stevenston. He was also a member of Holytown Parish Church Choir. He left a young widow Catherine G. Allan and children, who resided at South Road, Biggar, Lanarkshire. John is buried at -

MENDINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY - Poperinge, West Vlaanderen. Plot 11, Row F. Grave No.66.

3478 Pte John ANDERSON

Scottish Rifles 6th Battalion

John was killed in action on the 6th of April 1916. He was shot through the head while on duty in the trenches in France. John was in his 34th year and was a native of Dundee, his father having been a compositor on the staff of the "Dundee Courier". John was born in Dundee and enlisted in Hamilton. Previous to going on service Pte Anderson was employed in the Summerlee Iron and Coal Company's Flattonrigg Colliery, Bellshill. His mother received the intimation of his death while residing with her daughter Mrs James, at 15 Duffs Land, Holytown. John is buried at-

CAMBRIN CHURCHYARD EXTENSION - Pas de Calais France. Grave Ref J 64.
 

 

12100 L/Cpl Robert BLACK

Highland Light Infantry 2nd Battalion

Robert was killed in action at La Bassee in France on the 24th of October 1914 when the trench he was located in was blown up by the Germans. He was 21 years of age and had been three years in the Army. He was previously a miner at Thankerton Colliery and was the second member of his family to be killed in action. His brother Lance-Sgt William Black was killed on November 14th 1914. Another brother was home in Holytown wounded and had returned to the front. Robert was born in Ballymena, County Antrim. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the -YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL - Leper West Vlaanderen Belgium. Panel 38.

11302 Sgt William BLACK

Highland Light Infantry 2nd Battalion

William was killed in action at Ypres (Non Boschen) in Belgium on the 14th of November 1914. He was part of the 5th Brigade 2nd Division and was a brother of Robert Black. William was born in Kirkinriola, Ballymena, County Antrim. No further at present. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the -YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL - Leper West Vlaanderen Belgium. Panel 38.

50903 Cpl Thomas Neilson BLACKWOOD

Royal Army Medical Corps

Thomas died from malaria whilst on military service in Egypt during November -December 1919. He was 24 years old. He had served in various campaign theatres during the war and was awaiting his transfer to England for demobilisation. He was born in Leadhills and until he joined up for military service he was in the employment of Dalziel Co-Operative Society at their New Stevenston grocery branch. His parents Archibald and Catherine Alexander nee Anderson, lived at East End, Holytown. Thomas is also commemorated on the Leadhills Memorial. He is buried at the -

ALEXANDRIA (HADRA) WAR MEMORIAL CEMETERY Egypt. Grave Ref G27.

292727 Pte John BODEN

Black Watch 7th Battalion

John was killed in action on the 26th March 1918, almost certainly during the German Spring Offensive of 1918 (The Kaiser's Battle). He was part of the 153rd Brigade, 51st Division. He was born in Old Kilpatrick son of John Boden, Faifley, Duntocher, enlisted in Dunkeld. John Jnr. is buried at -

MOEUVRES COMMUNAL CEMETRY EXTENSION Nord France. Grave Ref Mem 2.

 

16489 Pte Alexander BROWN

Highland Light Infantry 16th Service Battalion

Alex was killed in Action on the Hindenburg Line, on the 4th of November 1918, seven days before the end of the war. He had been four years and three months on active service. He was in the Pioneer Battalion of the 32nd Division. He was born in Bothwell Parish, probably Holytown. He enlisted in Coatbridge and was previously wounded in the campaign. Before enlisting he resided at Main Street, Holytown and was in the employment of Andrew Clark, Merchant, Holytown. Alex had two brothers with the colours. He is buried at -ORS BRITISH CEMETERY Nord, France. Grave B 16.
 

 

 

S-6727 Pte Samuel ALLAN

Seaforth Highlanders 9th Battalion

Samuel was killed in action on the 25th of September 1915 on the first day of the Battle of Loos. He was in the pioneer Battalion of the 15th Division. He was born in Dalziel Parish and enlisted in Hamilton and left a widow Jane and two children. His Parents were Allan and Helen Thompson Allan. Sam was employed in the Globe Iron and Steelworks, Motherwell. He is commemorated on the -LOOS MEMORIAL Panel 115 -119.

 

S-12365 Pte John ANDERSON

Cameron Highlanders 5th Battalion

John was reported killed in action on the 20th of September 1914, near Vailly, Northern France and was in the 26th Brigade 9th Division. He was employed in a local colliery prior to being called up as an army reservist. He left a wife and three children to mourn his loss, and was stated to be the first killed in action from the New Stevenston locality. That report from the local newspaper conflicts with the casualty lists of the Cameron Highlanders which have John as killed in action on the 18th of July 1916, during the Battle of the Somme which I have since found to be correct. John is commemorated on the -THIEPVAL MEMORIAL - Somme France. Pier and Face 15 B.

 

6614 L/Bombardier John BISSETT

Royal Field Artillery

John was killed in action on the 21st of March 1918, probably during the German Spring Offensive (the Kaisers Battle). He was born in Wishaw and enlisted in Glasgow. He was 28 years of age and the youngest son of the late Peter and Mary Bissett, Clydesdale. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the -POZIERES MEMORIAL - Somme France. Panel 7 to 10.

 

20888 Cpl Alexander BLACKLEY

Royal Scots 13th Battalion

Alex died of wounds at home on the 24th of May, 1918. He was part of the 45th Brigade 15th Division and enlisted in Hamilton. The local paper gave an earlier report on Alex's being wounded as follows - " Cpl Alex Blackley Royal Scots is presently in hospital in London. He was dangerously wounded in France some weeks ago and his wife was summoned to a French hospital to visit him. Mrs Martha Donaldson Blackly undertook the journey and was able to be at his bedside at a most critical stage of his illness. Flis wounds are to the thigh and it was feared one of his legs would be required to be amputated, but this course has so far been averted. " Alex was the son of Samuel and Jeanie Gibb Blackley. Alex resided with his wife Martha at 80 Nimmo's Rows, New Stevenston. He was born at Longriggend, Airdrie. Prior to the War Alex was employed as a miner at Nimmo's Colliery. He is buried in -HOLYTOWN CEMETERY - Lanarkshire Lair No. B. 625.