Soldier’s touching note to nephew just before he was killed
A brave Rutherglen soldier wrote a heartfelt letter to his namesake baby nephew – shortly before his family received word that he had been killed in battle.
William Mackie, the youngest of three sons, rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant and had fought in Gallipoli, Egypt, Palestine and France during World War One.
The 25-year-old officer was wounded in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, which was the bloodiest conflict of WWI and left more than one million men wounded or dead.
After a short leave spent recuperating with his parents in Rutherglen, William returned to the French battlefields to resume the fight for his country – and his infant nephew.
Sadly, three weeks after saying his goodbyes, Lieutenant Mackie was killed in action.
The family shared a letter he had sent to his nephew, William Gardiner, when the baby was only a few weeks old.
The touching note was published in the Rutherglen Reformer on Friday, October 4 1918 – exactly 100 years ago this week.
It reads: “Greetings – in years to come your mama and dada will tell you stories of the Great War. All I can say is, nephew of mine, you are lucky to be just born, because you have nothing to worry you, and when the time comes when you can think for yourself, peace will once more be, and the War but a memory.
“I am going back to fight for you once again, and the fact of you being here will make me all the more determined to do my little bit well. For, as you are not of an age to fight, someone must do it for you.
“You and all your baby comrades hold the future in your hands. This is distinct: whereas the future of my comrades and myself is wrapped in mystery. Cheerio, Willie, and here’s to you.”
When William joined the Army he held a position in the cleansing department of Glasgow Corporation.
Educated at Whitehill School and Queen’s Park Higher Grade School, he later became secretary of Rutherglen Junior Liberal Association, and a member of Rutherglen Cricket Club.
The death of the brave soldier was confirmed in the Reformer 100 years ago.
We reported: “We regret to announce the death in action, on September 20, of Second Lieut. Wm P Mackie, younger son of Mr and Mrs Mackie, Whitefield House, Westfield, Rutherglen.
“He enlisted in the 16th HLI (Highland Light Infantry) in September 1914, and was within a day of four years’ complete service with the colours when he met his death.”