Long-serving soldier killed by stray shell

A long-serving Stirling soldier was killed by artillery fire while some distance from the firing line.

Regimental Sergeant Major Robert Lockhart was killed instantly when a stray shell burst beside him.

A Lt Col Gerard, writing to his wife, who lived in Penicuik, described the RSM’s death as“one of the cruellest pieces of fortune I have ever known”.

RSM Lockhart, aged 36, was the second son of the late Mr John Lockhart, coal merchant.

He joined the Royal Scots in 1899 and took part in the Boer War, for which he received the Queen’s and King’s medals.

He later served in India for three years.

The RSM had been engaged in training recruits at Glencorse Barracks, Edinburgh, and had only been in France six weeks when he met his death.

Before joining the Army, he worked as a grocer with Mr Robert Liddell, King Street, Stirling, and was a former member of the Stirling Artillery Company.

He stood 6ft 3in and was, said the Observer, “a fine figure of a noncommissioned officer”.

His brother William was manager of the grocery department of Stirling Co-operative Society in Upper Craigs, Stirling.

Lt Gerard described the RSM as a great loss to the regiment while chaplain Rev CS Wallace said he was a“helpful, efficient and well-trained soldier”.