Each November, I like to explore and research the bravery of Blantyre soldiers. Today, recognising another brave Blantyre man in 1915. In September 1915, official communication was been received by Mrs. Cummings, who lived at 245 Glasgow Road, Blantyre, from her son. Sergeant James Cummings, that he been recommended for the D.C.M. The official notice, […]
Tag: ww1
F Company, 1915
This is F Company of the Scottish 6th Rifles taken in Falkirk in October 1914. One of four Territorial Battalions of the Regiment, the 6th Scottish Rifles covered Lanarkshire and had its headquarters in Hamilton. The officer seated in the centre with a mousache is James Brown the School Teacher from Blantyre, killed in action […]
Blantyre’s D.C.M, 1916
This is a WW1 photograph of Private G. McGill of the 7th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, a Blantyre lad who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry and devotion to duty at Fosse 8 in battle on mainland Europe. In March 1916, when his officer, Captain Farmer, a man in his regiment, was wounded. Private […]
A Voice from the Front
In early April 1916, Private. Joe McAnulty, an Irish Catholic from Blantyre wrote home from the WW1 front. His message was about setting aside petty differences of religion and humankind after seeing the horrors ravaged communities were going through in France. A message of the futility of fighting to keep some indifferent people in the […]
Letter from Salonica, 1916
The following letter was received by the Hamilton Advertiser from two Blantyre lads with the Expeditionary Force in Salonica in May 1916. It’s a touching letter written by soldiers sending thanks. It was dated 10th April 1916. “We received your letter, dated 15th April, and return our thanks for you sending our parcel, and wishing […]
British Summer Time
Thomas Rankin Thorburn b1878 – d1918
Nicky Rowberry sent in a request saying, “Hi. I’m looking for any information on Thomas Rankin Thorburn – a Blantyre man who died in WW1. Is he commemorated on the war memorial? Or mentioned in any local newspapers? Thanks for your help. Nicky” Thomas Rankin Thorburn was born at Kirkton on 13th April 1878. A […]
Letter from the Trenches, 1915
David Reddiex shared this transcript of a letter from WW1. He told me, “I thought your readers may be interested in this type written letter from the trenches, in 1915. It depicts some of the brave tales of Auchentibber/Blantyre soldiers. My mother, Katherine , was a Strang and my father, James, was a Reddiex…both sadly […]
WW1 Red Cross Collection
This is an exclusive look at this photo, the first time it’s been online. Photographed during WW1 by early Blantyre photographer, David Ritchie, its from the collection of photos once shared to me by Alex Bowie. It was dark and not the best quality, but is brought a little to life by the added colour […]