The eight brothers who went to war

Pte George Reid of the 1st Black Watch died on Hogmanay 1914. Wounded at Givenchy, he was one of eight brothers to serve in the conflict, three in The Black Watch.

George, a reservist, returned to the 1st Battalion in Flanders in October 1914, arriving during the British Expeditionary Force’s retreat from the Aisne front.

“They were very quickly put into the lines,” said retired Black Watch Major Ronnie Proctor.

“Pte Reid’s younger brother William was in the Kirriemuir company of the 5th (Territorial) Battalion Black Watch. He arrived in Le Havre, underage, on November 2 1914.

“Stewart, the third Black Watch brother, landed in France on October 12 as a sergeant with the 2nd Battalion. Stewart and William met and tried to meet up with George, who fought at the first battle of Ypres and at Givenchy, only to find he had died of his wounds on Hogmanay.”

George’s grave was located by his family recently in a civilian cemetery.

The book Kirriemuir Home Front: World War One – Kirrie Kist’s Soldiering On mentions the Reids of Tillyloss:

“This remarkable family saw eight sons go to war: George, Stewart, James, David, Edwin, Willie, Jack and Geoff.

“Some had been in the army, serving abroad, others joined up in answer to the call.

“Sadly, James was reported lost in action in September 1914. George was killed in action on Hogmanay that year.”

Pte William Reid.