War widow now loses her brother

A Stirling woman who lost her husband in the fighting received the devastating news that the war had claimed the life of another family member.

Robert Jenkins, 13 Glencoe Road, Stirling, was killed in May, 1915.

His wife had now received official intimation of the death in a London hospital, from wounds sustained in action in France of her brother Pte William Dick, Royal Army Medical Corp.

Pte Dick was formally employed as a slater in Stirling and lived in the town’s George Street.

He enlisted in August 1915 and had been at the Front since January 1916. He was 36 and unmarried.

Mrs Harley, 72 Port Street, Stirling, was notified of the sad news that her husband, William, a private in the A&SH, was killed at the Front.

A comrade, John McBryde, from Stirling, told how William died on October 29.

He was wounded in the neck by shrapnel and was making his way from the first line of trenches to the rear for first aid when he was struck by a shell and killed.

John described William as a good soldier, liked by all, who was “steadfast in courage in the face of danger”.

William enlisted in January 1915 and went to the Front after a few months training.

He was wounded a year earlier but recovered and returned to the fighting line.

The 37-year-old was formerly employed as a painter with Messrs Henderson & Son. He left a widow and three children.

The Observer of 100 years ago this week reported the name of the first soldier from Bridge of Allan to win the Military Medal during the conflict.

Sgt Archibald Anderson, Royal Scots, was son of RSM Anderson, Black Watch, who formerly lived in Bridge of Allan but had moved to Norwich.

Sgt Anderson received his decoration for releasing and bringing back under fire to British lines on July 1, 1916, two men who had been tangled on barbed wire.

He suffered severe wounds to the right lung and right shoulder and was at that time still in hospital.

Another soldier to be decorated for gallantry was L/Cpl John McWhinnie, Royal Engineers, from Bannockburn.

He received the Military Medal some months earlier and was later recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

During a short spell of home leave, friends and family took the opportunity to honour him at a function in the Station Bar.

L/Cpl McWhinnie was presented with a watch and pocket book filled with cash, while his wife received the gift of a gold pendant and chain.

A native of Bellshill, he joined the A&SH but was transferred to the Royal Engineers where his practical knowledge of mining was put to good use.

2nd Lt AW Cunnison, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), previously reported wounded, was now said to be “wounded and missing”.

He was the son of lieutenant and quartermaster William Cunnison, A&SH, and Mrs Cunnison, of Hillside, Causewayhead.

Before joining the Army 2nd Lt Cunnison was a dentist with Mr JW Somerville, Viewfield Place, Stirling. He saw service in Gallipoli and had been in France for some months.

Mr James Taylor, Cambusbarron, learned that his son Robert, a private in the Royal Scots, was in hospital in Leeds suffering from shrapnel wounds sustained in action on November 13, 1916.

Pte Taylor received legal training at the Town Clerk’s Office in Stirling and at time of enlistment was working in Edinburgh.