Families learn grim news of death in the trenches

Archibald Henderson, a compositor, of 30 Bow Street, Stirling, received grim news from the front.

A letter told him that his son-in-law Cpl William Philips, 1st Highland Light Infantry, had been killed in action at Ypres on May 15. He was a 27-year-old reservist from Aberdeenshire who had married a daughter of Mr Henderson. They lived in Douglas Street, Stirling, before moving to Canada.

Pte A Zeller, 1st Cameron Highlanders, was reported to have been killed in action on May 9, 1915. Born in Broad Street, Stirling, he served his apprenticeship as a joiner and cartwright with Mr Sands, Raploch. He was 23 and the third son of George Zeller, pork butcher. Pte Zeller had for four years been in the 7th A&SH before moving to the Cameron Highlanders the previous September. AD Black, 10 Lower Bridge Street, was brother-inlaw of the deceased.

News reached Stirling that Pte W Monteith, Seaforth Highlanders, son of Ebenezer Monteith, 30 Lower Castlehill, was a prisoner of the Germans.

Pte Malcolm Cowan, 1st A&SH, son of Archibald Cowan, gardener, Upper Castlehill, Stirling, was reported to have been killed in action. His family had received no official word but news of his death had come from pals serving alongside him.

There were further unofficial reports that Pte Thomas Moneith, 2nd A&SH, had been killed while carrying wounded out of a trench during heavy shell fire.

The 21- year- old was the son of William Moneith, plasterer, 32 Lower Castlehill, and joined the Army almost five years earlier. He had served in India.

Mr and Mrs Kaney, 14 Bow Street, Stirling, learned on May 25 that their eldest son L/Cpl John Kaney of 7th A&SH had been killed in action on April 25 on Hill 60 near Ypres.

L/Cpl Kaney had learned his trade with Robert Oswald, slater, Spittal