On 27th November 1918, just over 2 weeks after the fighting in Europe ended, sad news reached High Blantyre that another soldier had died.

Private Alexander Richardson, Royal Artillery, the youngest son of James Richardson, died in a hospital in France from pneumonia.

The 40 year old soldier from Hunthill Road left behind a widow and three children, who lived in High Blantyre. How terrible to have survived that war, only to have succumbed to a cold winter in hospital afterwards.

From “Blantyre Explained” by Paul Veverka

Pictured that year is a French hospital for allied troops.

Featuring Blantyre Project Social Media with permission. Strictly not for use by others on or offline, our visitors said:

Nan Burrows May he rest in peace.Condolences to his family
Marian Maguire So sad what they all went through.
Ann Higgins Crossar Very sad – and that would have been “Spanish Flu” from which he died from – of which lots of soldiers died from too – you are right Paul – how horrendous to have come through the horror of war, to then die from flu. Life is so cruel. RIP