Black Watch soldier’s sacrifice finally receives recognition

MEMORIaL: Name is now included

A forgotten Angus soldier’s name has finally been added to the Scottish National War Memorial.

Private George Turnbull Orrock of the 8th Black Watch was shot in the leg at the Battle of Loos in 1915, an injury from which he never fully recovered.

He died after a long illness in Arbroath Infirmary on November 29 1918 aged 24 and was buried with full military honours in Inverkeilor churchyard.

However, the grave was unmarked and a new stone was only erected in February following a request to the Commonwealth Wa r G r av e s Commission.

Patrick Anderson from Letham in Angus took a keen interest in the story after the new headstone was put up at the churchyard.

He discovered that Pte Orrock was not listed on the Scottish War Memorial index at Edinburgh Castle and set out to prove his case.

Mr Anderson did some research to prove that Pte Orrock’s death was as a result of injuries battlefield in 1915.

He said: “No one had noticed he had not been recorded on the Commonwealth Wa r G r av e s Commission until my friend Derek Robertson submitted the information to have him listed.

“Afterwards I found that he was not listed on the Scottish War Memorial index at Edinburgh Castle so I did some research to prove his death was due to wounds sustained in war.

“I compiled a file to submit to Lt Col Roger J Binks, who is the keeper of the rolls at the Scottish National War Memorial, who has now accepted that Pte Orrock was a casualty of the 19141918 war.

“I am so pleased and I am sure there will be families in and around Angus who are related to this brave young Black Watch soldier.”

Pte Orrock was born in Carmyllie, a son of James and Mary Ann Orrock, from Redcastle near Arbroath.

Before enlisting in the 8th Black Watch in 1914, he was a farm servant at East Newton when he joined Kitchener’s Army.

His name appears on the St Vigeans war memorial which stands beside the kirk above the main road.

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Picture: Andy Thompson. Patrick Anderson at the grave in Inverkeilor churchyard, outside Arbroath.