An obituary from the Herald in 1917
The passing of David Watson McCabe was reported in an April 1917 edition of the Strathearn Herald:
“The sad intelligence was received from the War Office last Sunday morning by his parents Mr and Mrs Martin McCabe, Galvelmore Street, Crieff, of the death of their son Lieutenant David W.M. McCabe, of the Canadian Infantry, he having died on Thursday from wounds received on the 9th April 1917.
“A previous announcement had stated he had been wounded in the abdomen.
“Lieutenant McCabe, who was in the 33rd year of his age, was educated in Crieff Public School, under the late Mr McMartin, and after leaving school served an apprenticeship as a mason. About seven years ago he went to Canada, where he had a business on his own account, and two years later he acquired a large farm in Saskatchewan, which he carried on with increasing success.
“In November 1914, he enlisted in the Canadian Forces, having disposed of his business, and leased the farm for the time being. After completing his training in England he went to France in May 1915, where he took part in several engagements, in one of which his Battalion was congratulated personally by Sir Douglas Haig upon their bravery and courage amid a particularly disastrous bombardment of their line by the enemy.
“Sergeant McCabe (as he then was) so distinguished himself that he was promoted in the field to Lieutenancy.
“About that time he was severely wounded in the leg, and afterwards spent a considerable period of his convalescence last autumn in his native town, returning to France in December last.
“General regret has been expressed at the gallant Lieutenant’s death. He was of a singularly cheery and affable disposition, and held in high esteem by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
“Sincere sympathy is also entertained for his parents in the loss of one who was an eminently dutiful and beloved son.
“His father, who is a gardener at Ardvreck, Crieff, was for many years a non commissioned officer in the 6th Black Watch (Territorials), and has been acting as drill instructor to the Crieff platoon of the Perth Volunteer Regiment.”