Facebook post leads to family shedding new light on the life of Cupar war hero

The daring exploits of a First World War hero from Fife are being appreciated as never before thanks to a social media alert spotted by the soldier’s grandson.

A post on the Cupar Library Facebook page, by OnFife local studies supervisor Andrea McMillan, caught the eye of company Sergeant John Lumsden’s grandson, also named John Lumsden.

He sent copies of precious family documents to Andrea, which have given a fuller picture of the fallen hero’s life.

John Lumsden was one of several Cupar men to join the 7th Battalion Black Watch at the outbreak of war in 1914.

The linen factory worker was awarded the Military Medal on June 16 1915, a year before his death.

Tasked with holding the communications lines and later in the trenches during the attack on FestubertGivenchy front, the battalion suffered heavy casualties.

Under heavy shell fire, Lumsden tried to carry Captain James Donaldson, who had been shot in the head by a sniper, to safety.

A shell burst behind them, wrecking a bridge they had crossed and cutting off a party of wounded on the other side.

Sergeant Lumsden collected materials to restore the bridge, under constant fire, allowing the stranded soldiers to get to safety.

Sergeant Lumsden is reported to have also saved himself and others earlier that day by throwing a bomb out of a trench.

Captain Donaldson, convinced he owed his life to his sergeant’s gallant conduct, mentioned John

Lumsden in dispatches in January 1916.

Within six months, aged 26, John was dead, killed on July 30 in the attack on High Wood. A posthumous Military Medal was awarded in 1917.

His grandson contacted Andrea after reading her Facebook post following research on some of the names included on the Cupar war memorial.

Family letters and photographs sent to Andrea also helped to shed new light on the impact that the death had on soldier ’s family.

“I had two heroes of the First World War,” said John.

“My grandfather’s story is well documented and he is deserving of the status of a very local war hero who paid the ultimate price,” he said.

“My g r a n d m o t h e r ’s undocumented story is one of a woman who bore her grief without bitterness and raised her children with fortitude, grace and dignity.”

Andrea said: “It’s been a real privilege to learn so much about Sergeant Lumsden and his family.”

Research into the names on Cupar’s war memorial has shed light on the bravery of John Lumsden, above, and above right leading his company, in the First World War.