rolt968 Posted 27 October , 2014 Share Posted 27 October , 2014 In Memorium Lance Corporal Joseph Coull Valentine, 1 Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 693, of 10 Union Street, Edzell. Born in Montrose 18 October 1886, the son of James Valentine and Helen Valentine (nee Coull) Going by his serial number he joined the Black Watch in late 1906. However he seems to have been serving before then. According to the Brechin Advertiser there were no vacancies in the Black Watch, so he joined the Wiltshire regiment and transferred to 2 Black Watch in India. He probably completed his time with the colours in 1912. He was appointed a postman in September 1912, but it is not clear if he took up the appointment immediately. He was certainly working as a postman in Edzell in 1914. On 27 June 1913, he married Jane Ledingham Crabb in Montrose. As a reservist, he was immediately recalled on mobilisation. He landed in France with 1 Black Watch on 13 August 1914. His brother Robert served in the same battalion and was wounded and evacuated not long before Joseph Valentine was killed. Robert's account of what happened suggests that Joseph was a casualty of the heavy shelling of A Company 1 Black Watch in trenches near Gheluvelt on 27 October 1914. Joseph Valentine has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate. He is chronologically the first casualty commemorated on the war memorial in Edzell (Angus). He is also commemorated on the Montrose war memorial. Rather poignantly the meeting of the kirk session of Edzell United Free Kirk on 8 October 1914 noted that Mr and Mrs Valentine had joined the church by presenting their "lines". There is a picture of Joseph Valentine in this collection: http://archive.angus.gov.uk/history/gallery/WWI/Edzell-WWI.pdf (A footnote: While chronologically the first casualty on the Edzell war memorial, he seems not to have been the first casualty in Edzell. The report of his death is headed "Another Edzell Postman Killed" . But that is a story for another time.) R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwarchive Posted 25 March , 2016 Share Posted 25 March , 2016 The regular battalion enlistment book has him transferring into the Black Watch from the Wiltshire Regiment on 31st July 1906. His Wiltshire Regimental Number being 7199. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolt968 Posted 25 March , 2016 Author Share Posted 25 March , 2016 The regular battalion enlistment book has him transferring into the Black Watch from the Wiltshire Regiment on 31st July 1906. His Wiltshire Regimental Number being 7199. Many thanks. Did you know there is a photograph of him at Angus Archives? Roger M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolt968 Posted 25 March , 2016 Author Share Posted 25 March , 2016 Even more thanks! With that serial number he enlisted in the Wiltshire Regiment at the turn of 1904/1905. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 25 March , 2016 Share Posted 25 March , 2016 The regular battalion enlistment book Are there any Territorial battalion enlistment books at all, or well they all destroyed? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwarchive Posted 25 March , 2016 Share Posted 25 March , 2016 Seemingly destroyed. I have regulars and s numbers only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 26 March , 2016 Share Posted 26 March , 2016 Seemingly destroyed. I have regulars and s numbers only. OK, thank you. What a great pity. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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