Dead after three months

A Stirling teenager who had been in France for only three months was reported to have died on October 14, 1918, from wounds received in action. Pte Philip McInnes, was the second son of Mr and Mrs G McInnes, 6 Bayne Street, Stirling. The private was two months short of his 19th birthday and enlisted in January, 1918. He was before employed at the parcels office of Caledonian Railway Company, Stirling. ‘Billy’, as he was known by his chums, was a former member of 4th Stirling Boys’ Brigade. His older brother in France with the Army Service Corp.

*** A day before Pte McInnes died, another Stirling soldier succumbed to wounds sustained in action. Pte William Cumming , A&SH, was 20 and the second son of Mr and Mrs Cumming , 57 Port Street, Stirling. Before the war, Pte Cumming was employed in the drapery department of Stirling Co-operative Society. A member of Stirling shire Territorials, he was mobilised with his battalion at the outbreak of hostilities and went to France in October, 1917.

*** A Stirling Military Medallist was in hospital in Birmingham after having his left leg amputated above the knee. Pte Peter Balloch, Royal Scots, eldest son of Mr James Balloch, barman, Star Bar, Friars Street, Stirling, was injured on October 1, 1918, while serving in France. The former barman at the Star Bar enlisted in January, 1915, and distinguished himself at the Battle of the Somme following which he was awarded a the Military Medal for gallantry. He had previously been twice wounded

*** Among the latest wounded was Second Lieutenant David W Soote, Royal Garrison Artillery, who was hit in the left arm by a shell splinter. News of his condition was sent to his wife who lived at Bellfield, Upper Bridge Street, Stirling. Lt Soote, whose father lived in East Newport, Fife, was before the war a maths master at Stirling High. He had been on active service for three years. Lt Soote was in hospital in Oxford and, added the Observer, his wounds were said to be of a serious nature.

*** Pte George Gilmour, a former clerk and chauffeur, had been severely wounded in both legs and had one of them amputated. He was the son of Inspector Gilmour, Stirling Burgh Police Force, and was 19. He joined up in August, 1917. He worked as a clerk with Messrs Macintosh and Macintosh, Thistle Street, Stirling, and drove for Mr Graham, motor hirer, Stirling.