1917 Casualties - Part two

"attachment_874231" "" "213"] Lance Corporal Donald Currie Binnie OT_T07_Binnie

 

Lance Corporal Donald Currie Binnie, s/n 7484, 1st/9th Durham Light Infantry, was born on June 26, 1893 at Victoria Cottage, Soroba Road to craneman Alexander and his wife, Catherine MacGilvray. His father was born in Linlithgow and his mother in Melfort.

 

By 1901, there were five sons and two daughters in the family, with Donald being the third youngest and his father working as a joiner. Ten years later, his father was a shop assistant in a fish shop, a further daughter had been born and Donald was a tailor in the employment of L. MacIntyre, Craigard Road.

 

He was in the Boys’ Brigade and for about 10 years associated with the Faith Mission, taking an active role in evangelistic and other religious work. Donald joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and then was transferred to the Durham Light Infantry. He died on April 13, 1917, aged 23, and is buried at Agny Military Cemetery, H 44/57.

 

 

"attachment_874237" "" "212"] Private Hugh MacLean
OT_T07_Pte. Hugh Maclean

 

Private Hugh MacLean, s/n 300314, 1st /8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was born on August 14, 1896, at Bonawe Quarries to quarry labourer Duncan MacLean and his wife, Isabella.

 

His parents came from Moidart and Morar, respectively. By 1911 the family was living in Ganavan Cottages where Duncan was an estate labourer. There were two sons in the family, Hugh and an older brother, Donald, and later a younger brother and sister.

 

On leaving school, Hugh became a law clerk, employed by Henry MacKenzie. He joined the Argylls at the outbreak of war and was seriously wounded in the head by a bullet.

 

The assistant matron of the casualty receiving station wrote to his parents, ‘doctors felt from the first that there was no hope of recovery but in order to give every possible chance, they performed an operation. There was no improvement and he passed away during the night.’

 

He died on April 14 1917 and is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery Plot XXII H 7, France. He was 20.

 

Private Alexander MacKay, s/n 278498, 1st /7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was born on December 27, 1882, at Glenshalloch Place, Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbright to granite quarry cutter Alexander MacKay and his wife, Elizabeth. Four

 

years later, a daughter Elizabeth was born.

 

By 1901, the family lived at Bonawe, where young Alastair worked as a quarry crane driver. In 1911 his address was given as the Concrete Buildings, Bonawe, where he worked as a blacksmith at Bonawe Quarry.

 

He married Annie Cameron MacRae in 1915 and they lived at 33 Combie Street prior to the outbreak of the war. Alexander joined the Argylls 7th Battalion and was sent to France where he was killed in action on April 16, 1917, aged 34. He is buried at Athies Communal Cemetery Extension, Plot C11, France.

 

Private John Hicks, s/n/ 278645, 1st /7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was born on November 20, 1878, in Greenock to James Hicks, a joiner and his wife, Agnes Fyffe. The family lived for the next 35 years in Port Glasgow and consisted of four sons and two daughters.

 

In 1901, John was a tailor in Port Glasgow then moved to Oban where he gained employment with Wm. Chalmers, Highland Warehouse. He married Marion MacKinnon Henry of Greengarden, Soroba Road, and had one child, Elizabeth, who was born in 1916.

 

The family lived at 5 Lochavuillin Terrace and John enlisted with the Argylls in Oban and was killed on the Western Front on April 23, 1917, aged 38. He is buried at Level Crossing Cemetery, Fampoux Plot I.A.68, France.

 

"attachment_874249" "" "266"] Private Alexander MacLachlan
OT_T07_Pte Alexander MacLachlan

 

Private Alexander Duncan McLachlan, s/n 238040, 1st /7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was born on December 22, 1897, at 6 Combie Street, Oban to Lachlan, a labourer from Dervaig and his wife, Jessie MacIntyre from Lismore.

 

He was the youngest of two sons and three daughters and the family lived firstly in Combie Street and then Argyll Square. He attended Oban High School and then was in the employment of fishmonger D. Hunter.

 

In 1915, Alexander joined the County Battalion when he was only 17 and was sent to France the following year. Alexander was then transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders but was killed on April 22, 1917, by a shell exploding in his trench. His body was temporarily buried by the explosion but was reinterred in a small battlefield cemetery with other lads killed in the attack three days later. He was 19. Private McLachlan is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Bay 9, France.

 

"attachment_874261" "" "237"] Private Malcolm Wright
OT_T07_Pte Malcolm Wright

 

Private Malcolm Wright, s/n 40250, 11th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was born on April 29, 1897, in George Street, Oban to Thomas Wright, a seaman and his wife Janet (Jessie) MacDonald. By 1901, his father was a master mariner and by 1911, the family was still living in George Street and Malcolm was their only child. When he left school, Malcolm helped his father as a boat-hirer. He joined the Argylls in 1915, aged 18, and was described as being 5’9” and a boatman on enlisting.

 

After completing a course in musketry and being attached to No 6. Royal Engineers for a short time, he was sent to France. In 1917, Malcolm’s parents were living in Stafford Street when they received news of their son’s death. He was killed in action on April 23, 1917, aged 19 and is buried within the Tank Cemetery, Guemappe. Grave C.18, France

 

"attachment_874258" "" "212"] Second lieutenant Robert Forbes
OT_T07_2nd Lieutenant Robert Forbes

 

2nd Lieutenant Robert Struthers Forbes, 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was born on April 18, 1894, at 2 Buchanan Terrace to James Douglas Forbes, a draper and his wife, Elizabeth Struthers. In 1901, the family consisted of two daughters and one son, with two more daughters having arrived by 1911.

 

Robert was the second born and by the age of 16 was an apprentice draper in his father’s business in Argyll Square and then secured an appointment with a commercial house in London. The family home was in Albert Villa.

 

Robert originally served in the ranks in the Black Watch and later joined the Argylls, where he was one of the designated grenade bombers of the regiment for a time. He was promoted rapidly from Lance-Corporal to Corporal and then recommended for a commission as Second Lieutenant. He paid his last visit to Oban in January 1917 and, on April 23, he wrote to his parents saying his regiment was ‘going over the parapet’ the following day.

 

Robert was killed in action at 5am on April 24, 1917, ‘leading his platoon to the enemy trench’. He was 23 and is buried within Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery, Grave VIII C.7, France.

 

Private Archibald Morrison, s/n 300913, 1st /8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was born on June 10, 1898, at Mossfield House, Glencruitten to farm servant Archibald Morrison from Cologin Farm, Lerags and Mary Campbell, a domestic servant, originally from Bunessan, Mull.

 

His mother moved to Ichrachan near the Pass of Brander while Archibald lived as a boarder in Airds Crescent with Kate MacKechnie, a children’s nurse, while he was an infant.

 

He was a member of the Oban Boys’ Brigade. At the outbreak of war, he enlisted with the Argylls 8th Bn. and was killed on May 16, 1917, aged 18. Archibald is commemorated on Bay 9 of the Arras Memorial, France.

 

"attachment_874270" "" "209"] Corporal Alexander MacIntyre
OT_T07_Corporal Alexander MacIntyre

 

Corporal Alexander MacIntyre, s/n 371106, London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), was born on November 1, 1888, at 11 Combie Street to James, a labourer from Strontian, and his wife, Christine MacIntyre from Glasgow.

 

In 1891 the family lived at Back Combie Street, with Alexander having an older sister Mary and a younger brother called Angus. Ten years later, the family had moved to 43 Combie Street and a further two daughters and three sons had been born.

 

Alexander was in the Boys’ Brigade. He had joined the Post Office Service as a telegraph messenger, and after five years in that department, he was promoted to postman rank, first in Appin then Oban.

 

At the outbreak of war, he joined one of the battalions (London Regiment) of the Post Office Rifles under the command of Colonel Ogilvie. He rose to the rank of Corporal and was engaged in the heavy fighting in the spring offensive in France. In a letter of condolence, a Company officer wrote: ‘His skill as a scout was very considerable and his presence in my Company was a pleasure to all his officers and men.’ He died on June 2, 1917, aged 28 and is commemorated on Bay 10 of the Arras Memorial, France.

 

"attachment_874276" "" "231"] Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm MacNeill
OT_T07_Lt. Col. Malcolm MacNeill

 

Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm MacNeill, 11th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was born in Oronsay Priory, the only child of Colonel A.C. MacNeill and his wife of the House of MacNeill of Colonsay. His father was a Companion of the Star of India, an award conferred by Queen Victoria for Indian Army Service.

 

When he was a boy, Malcolm moved to Edinburgh and was educated at Cargilfield and Clifton and entered the army through Sandhurst. He received a commission in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1885 and attained the rank of Captain in 1894. He saw active service in the Indian North-West Frontier, the Tochi Valley and Somaliland where he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service order. He retired from the army in 1906 and joined the Officers Reserve.

 

Malcolm had a wide reputation as a big game hunter and amassed a large collection of noteworthy trophies which he displayed in the museum he had built in his home at Dungrianach on Pulpit Hill. He also had a great interest in Gaelic literature and music, particularly the pipes.

 

At the outbreak of war, he received command of 11th Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as their Lieutenant-Colonel, which he held until his death. He became ill with pleurisy on May 24, 1917, and was taken to Lady Murray’s Hospital, Treport in France. Before he boarded the hospital train, McNeill called for his Glengarry bonnet. He laid it on his breast, badge uppermost and said: ‘I am ready.’

 

He died, aged 51, on June 3, 1917 of heart failure following an attack of malaria. He was buried at Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport, Plot IV B 10, France.

 

"attachment_874279" "" "256"] Lance Corporal Archibald Stevenson
OT_T07_Lance Corporal Archibald Stevenson

 

Lance Corporal Archibald Sim Stevenson, s/n 40376, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, was born at 16 Shore Street on December 22, 1889, to mason Hutton Stevenson and his wife, Jessie Mathieson. By 1891, the family lived at Back Shore Street and consisted of two daughters and five sons, with Archie being the youngest. Ten years later the family was at 5 Lochavuillin Terrace and another son and daughter had been born. Archie was in the Boys’ Brigade. By 1911, he was 22 and employed as a general labourer by Argyll County Council then by Beardsmore’s Shipyard, Dalmuir. At the outbreak of war he was in the Lovat Scouts attached to the Gordon Highlanders and had gained the rank of Lance-Corporal. He fell on June 14, 1917, from the bullet of a German sniper and death was instantaneous. Archibald was 27 and is commemorated on Bays 8 and 9 of the Arras Memorial, France.

 

Private Donald Cameron Graham, s/n 23232, 16th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, was born on December 13, 1898, at 10 Combie Street to gardener and town carter John Graham and his wife, Isabella MacLaughlin. When Donald was aged two the family had grown to three sons and, 10 years later, a further two sons had been born. Donald was in the Boys’ Brigade. Sadly, their mother died and then their father, and the family was taken into care near Burnside Street.

 

Donald found employment with Mr Cameron, a farmer at Kilninver and joined the H.L.I. (Glasgow Highlanders) at the outbreak of war. He was killed in action in France on July 3, 1917, aged 18, and is buried at Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery, Nieuport Military Cemetery, Memorial 19, Belgium.