10th Bn., Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

[Haggisbasher]

Hello everyone,

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am trying to find out what action the above Bat. was involved in on the 22nd of Feb 1916, that cause the death of my relation.

From passed down information it was described he was part of a bayonett charge and was last seen rolling down a hill. He is recorded in LOOS memorial but his grave is in Baillestone here. This is strange as my family said no body was found. I cannot find his service records or medal card. Any information if really appreciated.

Private WILLIAM ALLISON

Service number 18526,

10th Bn., Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

who died age 21

on 22 February 1916

Son of Samuel and Magdalene Allison, of 37, Camphill, Baillieston, Glasgow.

Remembered with honour

LOOS MEMORIAL

[archangel9]

His MIC -

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=1126351&queryType=1&resultcount=1

Medal card of Allison, William

Corps Regiment No Rank

10th Scottish Rifles 18526 Private

10th Scottish Rifles 18526 Private

Also available on Ancestry.

John

[archangel9]

SDGW -

Name: William Allison

Birth Place: Baillieston, Lanarkshire

Death Date: 22 Feb 1916

Enlistment Location: Glasgow

Rank: Private

Regiment: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Battalion: 10th Battalion

Number: 18526

Type of Casualty: Killed in action

Theatre of War: France & Flanders

John

[eltoro1960]

Hi Haggisbasher, the grave in Baillieston is not his actual grave, it was not uncommon for the family to add a name to a family headstone when thier loved one had been killed overseas. My Great Uncle Charlie was killed in France but his name is on the same stone as my Great Grandafther in Newbattle Cemetery, near Newtongrange, he is buried in St Sever France.

It would appear that William and a chap called Joseph Symons were the only two killed that day, he is also remembered on the Loos Memorial, I don't have the war diary for them but member BArrie Duncan may be able to assist if he see this topic.

Johm

[Rob Bulloch]

Haggisbasher This is an extract from the History of the 10th Battalion Cameronian Scottish Rifles.

Date 14th February 1916 to 24th February 1916.

On February 14th we moved back into the HULLOCH sector having the centre subsection.

Owing to changes in the subsections we had to improvise a HQ dugout.

On relieving at approx 5.00.pm. we witnessed an intense bombardment in the region of North of HULLOCH road.

it was similar to the one we had previously suffered, very intense artillery fire succeeded with Machine

and Rifle fire all directed to a small front.

We were coming up WINGS WAY just while the enemy was bombarding STONE STREET on the other side of the

HULLOCH ROAD.

We expected to be shelled but fortunately were not. At this time too there was considerable expectation

of a hostile gas attack and precautions were taken. For some days however the weathercock (An Innovation)

pointed steadily South West, but we did not wait long for the wind to change & on the first evening it did,

the enemy attacked to the North at LA BASSEE and South at GIVENCHY.

Here the French cannonade was continuous and vehement.

We were four (4) back TENTH AVENUE, otherwise during this tour in the front line the whole time. We dug saps

out to the craters by NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN SAPS. (One of the craters was named after Colonel Smith) On this crater

the enemy had erected two(2) flags which (Fearing guile) we allowed to remain.

Just as we came out of the line we were expecting one of our mines to be blown at this point, but we got out

without having to experience maning a newly made crater.

Not much i'm afraid..Sorry no mention of casualties. I hope this is of some help to you.

Aye Rob

[Haggisbasher]

John. Thank you for this information. Im ordering the MIC as we speak

Rob, Not sure if there is a thanks button, so I'll just type it. Thanks!

Hi Haggisbasher, the grave in Baillieston is not his actual grave, it was not uncommon for the family to add a name to a family headstone when thier loved one had been killed overseas. My Great Uncle Charlie was killed in France but his name is on the same stone as my Great Grandafther in Newbattle Cemetery, near Newtongrange, he is buried in St Sever France.

It would appear that William and a chap called Joseph Symons were the only two killed that day, he is also remembered on the Loos Memorial, I don't have the war diary for them but member BArrie Duncan may be able to assist if he see this topic.

Johm

Thank you for this. Can I ask where you got the information on the casualties. I cant seem to find this info?

[Haggisbasher]

Okay I also downloaded what I thought were the war diaries of the 10th but it had everything but the 10th. Any idea where I could find these, i looked in Archives but cant seem to hit on them.

[sheilmar27]

I am also trying to find information about a soldier in this regiment. He was my great uncle.

He was John Varney, a Lance Serjeant no 14305 10th Battalion Scottish Rifles. He died at No 1 Base Hospital Rouen from wounds received,, I think on the 5/10/1915. There was a newspaper report in the local Dumfriesshire paper stating that he was in hospital with wounds from a battle on that date. A later report stated he died from those wounds but his headstone in St Sever Cemetery states he died on the 5th October 1915.

Can any one tell me anything about the battle they were engaged in on that date please?

[Adam Harland]

Only a guess, but i would imagine that he was a casualty from Loos on 25/9/15. the bttn was heavily engaged,losing 16 officers killed, 4 wounded, with 68 other ranks killed, 318 wounded and 239 missing. The date for these figures is not given in the divisional history, but many of the missing would subsequently have become the names on the Loos Memorial. The greater part of the battalion, indeed of the 15th Division simply disappeared.

The base hospital at Rouen was far behind the lines, and would have required the evacuation of the casualty from the front line, through the casualty clearing Station system. The official record rarely has a reference to the date of wounding,for those who died of wounds. You have a reference in a local paper, but 5/10/15 is the recorded date of death,and the 15th Division did not return to the line until 10/10/15. Given the statistics, I think your battle will be Loos

Adam

[sheilmar27]

Only a guess, but i would imagine that he was a casualty from Loos on 25/9/15. the bttn was heavily engaged,losing 16 officers killed, 4 wounded, with 68 other ranks killed, 318 wounded and 239 missing. The date for these figures is not given in the divisional history, but many of the missing would subsequently have become the names on the Loos Memorial. The greater part of the battalion, indeed of the 15th Division simply disappeared.

The base hospital at Rouen was far behind the lines, and would have required the evacuation of the casualty from the front line, through the casualty clearing Station system. The official record rarely has a reference to the date of wounding,for those who died of wounds. You have a reference in a local paper, but 5/10/15 is the recorded date of death,and the 15th Division did not return to the line until 10/10/15. Given the statistics, I think your battle will be Loos

Adam

Thanks Adam.

I Have since read the book on the 10th Batt Scottish Rifles. It states that they were in training until 7th September so the date given in his home town as 5th september when he received his wounds must be wrong. he is mentioned as having gone over the parapet on 25th - the first day of the Batte of Loos. he must have been sent to NO 1 Base Hospital Rouen (can't find anything much on that) where he died on 5th October. Thanks again. Sheilmar

[Guest samallison]

Dear Haggisbasher,

William Allison was my uncle. There may be another William Allison buried in Baillieston but that is not him. My father would have told me had the family erected a memorial. I saw my uncle's name on the Loos wall in France for missing soldiers from the Battle of Loos. It is also on the Commonwealth War Commission's site. In a very eerie experience I saw a Canadian Natioanl Film Board of Canada clip of the Battle, it showed the Cameronians charging into the German lines through the shellfire then only a few returning. My father, Graham Allison, said a sergeant came after the war to say Willie was shot by a sniper and died instantly, but that was often told and may not be the truth.

You said you were a relative. How are you related?

Sam Allison

[Tom Lang]

You may also want to contact the Cameronians Museum in Hamilton:

http://www.cameronians.org/

Barrie Duncan is a volunteer there.

Kindest Regards,

Tom.