Guest Posted 12 August , 2019 Share Posted 12 August , 2019 My great-grandfather (James Selkirk) and grand-uncle (Archibald Selkirk) joined the Seaforth Highlanders in 1914. Family history says that their younger brother William Selkirk also tried to join the Seaforths two years later when he turned 18, but wasn't allowed to. He's the one sitting down in both photos below and I'm trying to identify which battalion(s) he joined instead. The first photo (where he isn't wearing a kilt) was taken in Edinburgh, the second one in France where he met his older brothers. Any help, suggestions would be gratefully received... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolymoleyRE Posted 12 August , 2019 Share Posted 12 August , 2019 Hi Scott, welcome to the Forum, a couple of William Selkirks Royal Scots, Tartan is comparable Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolymoleyRE Posted 12 August , 2019 Share Posted 12 August , 2019 (edited) Going to go for this man, aged 21 on discharge in 1919 and from Edinburgh. Andy Edited 12 August , 2019 by HolymoleyRE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave66 Posted 12 August , 2019 Share Posted 12 August , 2019 Ancestry has a pension ledger for him here....https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=MeX18&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&db=westernfrontassociation&gsfn=William&gsln=Selkirk&gsfn_x=NN&gsln_x=NN&cp=11&qh=rGUae1JPKOLG0vnN%2BO/nmQ%3D%3D&new=1&rank=1&uidh=l37&redir=false&gss=angs-d&pcat=39&fh=1&h=700010&recoff=&ml_rpos=2 Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolymoleyRE Posted 12 August , 2019 Share Posted 12 August , 2019 (edited) If he was born in 1898, which fits with your aged 16 in 1914, and he lived in Jeffrey Street then it is the right William. Discharged due to Gunshot wounds to the abdomen Was Archibald killed? Edited 12 August , 2019 by HolymoleyRE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave66 Posted 12 August , 2019 Share Posted 12 August , 2019 His medal roll is here, 9th Btn....https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=MeX21&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&dbid=5119&gsfn=William&gsln=Selkirk&gsfn_x=NN&gsln_x=NN&cp=11&qh=rGUae1JPKOLG0vnN%2BO/nmQ%3D%3D&new=1&rank=1&uidh=l37&redir=false&gss=angs-d&pcat=39&fh=3&h=5079619&recoff=&ml_rpos=4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolymoleyRE Posted 12 August , 2019 Share Posted 12 August , 2019 Archibald? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1418 Posted 13 August , 2019 Share Posted 13 August , 2019 Hi the two chaps standing in the second image have some unusual cloth strips about an inch and a half wide stitched to the top of their sleeves running around the seam. Does anyone have any idea why? Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 13 August , 2019 Share Posted 13 August , 2019 11 minutes ago, Dave1418 said: Hi the two chaps standing in the second image have some unusual cloth strips about an inch and a half wide stitched to the top of their sleeves running around the seam. Does anyone have any idea why? Dave The 9th (Scottish) Division, of which 7th Seaforth were a part, wore coloured arcs as seen above yo identify companies within battalions - A red, B yellow, C blue. D green. These were introduced for the Somme; some battalions carried on wearing them through to 1918 whereas others seem to have allowed them to lapse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neill Gilhooley Posted 13 August , 2019 Share Posted 13 August , 2019 (edited) Sadly I cannot add to William Selkirk Pte 9th RS 301676, I only have him on the medal roll. https://neillgilhooley.com/9th-royal-scots/index/ His serial number was 7 Royal Scots, so that suggests he was posted. In early January 1918 the 9th were in the line near Lebucquiere, improving the trenches in hard frost, this was a month before they left 51st Division. On 31.12.17 there is 1 OR wounded reported in the War Diary. Edited 13 August , 2019 by Neill Gilhooley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1418 Posted 13 August , 2019 Share Posted 13 August , 2019 8 hours ago, Steven Broomfield said: The 9th (Scottish) Division, of which 7th Seaforth were a part, wore coloured arcs as seen above yo identify companies within battalions - A red, B yellow, C blue. D green. These were introduced for the Somme; some battalions carried on wearing them through to 1918 whereas others seem to have allowed them to lapse. Hi Steve that’s much appreciated, I had never realised that these distinctions were so large. many thanks Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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