"H. Company Hooks" - Royal Scots?

[bonjedward]

Can anyone provide any information about this photo, which comes from relatives who lived in West Lothian. I'm pretty sure it's taken during WW1. Is that the Royal Scots? Would Hooks be a nickname for the Company?  No-one in my family has been able to identify anyone in the picture.

Edited 14 August , 2019 by bonjedward
extra sentence

[Lost in Tilloy]

Hi

 

The photo may be of men from “H” company of the 10th (Cyclist) Battalion of the Royal Scots which was the Royal Scots Territorial Battalion for the Linlithgowshire area. “H” company covered the Kirkliston district in West Lothian and had drill stations at Dalmeny, Winchburgh and Newbridge.

Regards

LIT

 

[Neill Gilhooley]

It might even be a photo of Kirkliston (parish church from Bowling Green Rd)? I suspect Hooks is indeed a nickname.

[Waddell]

There are two bicycles (well wheels) visible behind the tall soldier on the right that would further support that.

 

Scott

[bonjedward]

Thanks, that's very useful information.I now suspect the man at the far left could be my great-grandmother's brother, Robert Dewar Johnston, a shale miner from Kirkliston. He was in the 10th battalion Royal Scots Cyclists until 1916 when he was discharged after serving 16 years in the Territorial army. He was a Colour Sergeant. He then enlisted with the Royal Engineers and was sent to France. My mother remembers him fondly (he died in 1959) - he never complained despite having damaged lungs from the gas and shrapnel that could not be removed.

Edited 15 August , 2019 by bonjedward
spelling

[ss002d6252]

1 hour ago, bonjedward said:

Thanks, that's very useful information.I now suspect the man at the far left could be my great-grandmother's brother, Robert Dewar Johnston, a shale miner from Kirkliston. He was in the 10th battalion Royal Scots Cyclists until 1916 when he was discharged after serving 16 years in the Territorial army. He was a Colour Sergeant. He then enlisted with the Royal Engineers and was sent to France. My mother remembers him fondly (he died in 1959) - he never complained despite having damaged lungs from the gas and shrapnel that could not be removed.

The man on the far left has no rank insignia, which would indicate he was a private.'

'H' company though would have been used for one of the original 8 companies of most territorial battalions so it may we be a pre-war picture from before he was promoted (someone will no doubt have some further comment as to whether or not the uniform would fit this).

Craig

[Lost in Tilloy]

I notice that Robert Dewar Johnston’s service records both for his time in the 10th Royal Scots and the Royal Engineers have survived, though the records for the latter regiment are quite damaged.

LIT

[PhilB]

I believe that, in WW1, the phonetic alphabet officially used Harry for H. I wonder if the Royal Scots preferred to use Hook for H. Hence, The Hooks for H Coy?