Berry S F Pte 27000 9th Cameronians

BERRY, SIDNEY FIELD, Private, No. 27000, 9th (Service) Battn. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 3rd s. of William Berry, of Insch, Gamekeeper (retired), by his wife, Mary A., dau. of Joseph Towns; b. Dyce, co. Aberdeen, 14 Dec. 1881; educ. Public School, Glass; was a Gardener; enlisted in the Cameronians 3 June, 1916; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 20 Dec. following: was reported missing after the fighting near St. Quentin 23 March, 1918, and is now known to have been killed in action on that date. He m. at Gilston, Largoward, 29 Sept. 1911, Mary (Jesmond Cottage, Upper Largo), dau. of James Taylor, and had three children: William James, b. 24 Dec. 1912; Sidney Field, b. 20 April, 1914, and Jean Hall, b. 8 April, 1916.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

ALLISON, GEORGE, Private, No. 266013, 7th (Territorial) Battn. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), s. of the late George Allison, of Thorterburn Farm, Neilston, by his wife, Jane Anderson; b. Neilston, co. Renfrew, 10 Dec. 1889; educ. Uplawmoor Public School; joined the Scottish Rifles in Sept. 1915; served with the Expeditionary Forces in Egypt, also in France, from May, 1916, and died at Edmonton Military Hospital 29 Dec. 1918, of injurics accidentally received while on service. Buried in Neilston Cemetery; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Gilkison D S Captain 2nd Cameronians

CAPTAIN D. S. GILKISON

2ND BATTALION THE CAMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES)

DUGALD STEWART GILKISON was the elder son of Dugald Stewart Gilkison, East India Merchant, of Wimbledon and Dalquharran, Ayrshire, and of Margaret his wife.

He entered the School in 1894, passed direct into the R.M.C., Sandhurst, in February, 1898, and passed out with honours in the following December.

He was gazetted to the Scottish Rifles in February, 1899, served under Sir Redvers Buller in the Ladysmith Relief Force, was present at the Battles of Colenso, Vaal Kranz, the Tugela Heights and Pieter’s Hill, was Intelligence Officer at Greylingstad, October, 1900, to August, 1901, and afterwards served in the Mounted Infantry till the end of the South African War, when he received the Queen’s Medal with five Clasps, and the King’s with two.

He rejoined his Regiment in Glasgow in 1904, was promoted Captain the same year, became Commandant of the School of Instruction in Glasgow, was Adjutant of his Regiment 1905 to 1908, Staff College 1908 to 1910, Staff Officer Northern Command 1911, Brigade Major 5th Infantry Brigade 1912, till the time of his death, September 20th, 1914. He was killed by a bullet while superintending operations of the 5th Brigade, near the village of Verneuil, on the Aisne. Age 34.

He was mentioned in Despatches of October 8th, 1914.

The General Commanding First Division wrote as follows :-

“His work during the Campaign has been simply splendid, and I honestly think he was one of the very best soldiers in the Army. He was always ready to cope with the most difficult extremity, and by his extraordinary gallantry he continually set the very best possible example to every one. I tried on all occasions to keep him away from the worst of the shoot-ing, because he was constantly desirous of being in every post of danger, and I am afraid that, when I left, he took risks which were not absolutely necessary.”

Colonel Davies, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, wrote:-

“During the very trying time of the retirement, when we were all dropping with fatigue and want of sleep, he was always absolutely clear-headed and confident. The anxiety for one in his position was no doubt great, but he always set an excellent example of cheerfulness and confidence. When things went better, and we were advancing, he was equally good.”

Colonel Westmacott, the Worcestershire Regiment, who commanded the Brigade after General Haking was wounded, wrote:-

“He was the most fearless man I ever met, and a great loss to us and to the Service.”

He married in February, 1905, Janet Kate, daughter of the Rev. A. Н. Harcourt-Vernon, of Keble, Clocolan, Orange River Colony, South Africa, and left four children.

Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1

Stirling J Captain 3rd Attd 1st Cameronians

STIRLING, JAMES, Capt., 3rd., attd. 1st, Battn. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), eldest s. of Col. James Wilfrid Stirling, of The Grange, Rockbeare, Devon, now commanding 72nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, by his wife, Cecil Mary, dau. of Major-Gen. Dixon Edward Hoste, C.B., R.A.; b. Hong Kong, 7 June, 1884; educ. Wellington College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 2nd Cameronians, 22 April, 1903, and promoted Lieut., 5 Oct. 1907; retired in 1911 and joined the 3rd Battn. at Hamilton for Special Reserve duty; appointed Capt., 1912; rejoined on the outbreak of war; went to the Front from England, 6 Oct. 1914, where he was attached to the 1st Battn., and was killed in the trenches near Armentières, 2 Jan. 1915; unm.

His Colonel wrote: “The loss of your dear son is irreparable. As his late commanding officer I deeply feel his sad but glorious end; he was one of the most honourable, conscientious and reliable of all my officers.” A bronze tablet was placed in Rockbeare Parish Church to the memory of himself and his younger brother, Lieut. W. D. Stirling, R.N. (see following notice).

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1