NEW ZEALAND AND SCOTTISH CONNECTIONS
1914 - 1918
Thanks to Alistair McEwen for these
ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS
Captain George Alastair Sinclair THOMSON, born Dunedin, New Zealand June 1892, died 21/07/1916, age 24, was the son of John Sinclair Thomson, a Bank Manager, and Annie Sinclair Thomson, of Geraldine, South Canterbury, New Zealand. He was sent to attend Loretto School from 1908 to 1910. After leaving school he took up sheep-farming in New Zealand, and was when war broke out, he returned to Scotland at once and secured a commission in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He went to France early in 1915, and was soon after given his Captaincy. Captain Sinclair Thomson, who was then with the 2nd Battalion of his Regiment, was superintending the digging of a trench by his men, on July 20, 1916, when he was shot by a sniper and died next day.
Poverty Bay Herald, 29 July 1916
Captain Alastair THOMSON was the third son of Mr Sinclair Thomson who previously lost another son in the Mesopotamia campaign while serving with the Indian Cavalry Regiment. Captain Thomson was born in Dunedin, educated at Christ's College, Christchurch, and Loretto. Returning to New Zealand, he studied at Lincoln College for about a year, and was then engaged in sheep-farming in North Otago. He went Home in the early months of the war and was given a commission in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. During the past year he saw a great deal of fighting.
Kenneth THOMSON was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Sinclair Thomson, of The Crossing, Geraldine, New Zealand. "Was born in Wellington on October 7th, 1886. He entered Wanganui Collegiate School in 1900, and remained here for five years, being a Prefect during his last year. From Wanganui he went for about a year to the Otago Medical School, and thence to St. Johns College, Cambridge. While at Cambridge he obtained a commission in the Kings Colonials and became so much interested in military matters that he decided to give up his medical career and go into the army. After taking his B.A. degree with honours in 1909, he obtained a commission in the Indian Army, leaving in February to join the 21st Cavalry, Frontier Force. He was on leave in New Zealand for six months in 1913, and visited Wanganui. His death in action occurred in the neighbourhood of Basra, in the Persian Gulf, on March 3rd, 1915, he having been attached for service to the 16th Cavalry, and put in command of a machine-gun section. He can have only been a very short time at the front before he fell." (In Memoriam, 1914-1918 [Wanganui Collegiate School])
Private Donald Roderick AINSWORTH, born Ardgour 1896, occupation in NZ Police Constable, enlisted in the Military Foot Police at Glasgow 15/11/1915, immediately promoted to Lance Corporal the requested a transfer to the Argylls and reduced to Private, went on leave in February 1917 to 5 Millerston Place, Dunoon, died 24/09/1918, age 23, was the son of William James Ainsworth, a Gamekeeper, and Margaret Ainsworth, originally of The Post Office, Ardgour, then 17 Gilbert Street, New Plymouth, New Zealand. Siblings John, Henry, Isabella and Margaret.
BLACK WATCH
Lieutenant Frank CHILTON, born Dunedin 1892, died 04/06/1915, age 23, was the only son of Charles Chilton, Professor of Biology, Canterbury University, and Elizabeth Chilton, of Canterbury College, Christchurch, New Zealand. He had been studying medicine at Edinburgh when war broke out.
Dr Charles Chilton, of Canterbury College, has received word from the High Commissioner, through the Prime Minister, that his only son, Lieutenant Frank Chilton, was reported from Alexandria on June 20th as killed in action. The late Lieutenant Chilton was born at Port Chalmers in 1892. In 1895
he was taken by his parents to Edinburgh, and remained in Scotland and Europe for about six years, returning to Christchurch, at the beginning of 1901. His education commenced at one of the Merchant Company's schools in Edinburgh, and was continued at a German Volkschule in Heidelberg, and afterwards at the West Christchurch District High School and the Waitaki Boys' High School. During his school course Lieutenant Chilton took spe�cial interest in chemistry and adopted photography as a hobby, showing great skill and taste in landscape work, During 1911 he was in business at E Reece and Sons, Christchurch.
He returned with his parents to Britain in 1912, and after studying at the Technical School, Plymouth, and tra�velling for some time on the Continent, commenced the study of medicine at the Edinburgh University, and had completed the first two years of the course with great credit, gaining medals in chemistry, botany, and zoo�logy. He served in the Waitaki High School Cadet Corps and for two years in the Officers Training Corps of the Edinburgh University. Immediately on the outbreak of war he volunteered and was gazetted second lieutenant in the Third Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He spent the winter of 1914-15 in camp near Woolwich. He was promoted to be first lieutenant and was transferred to the 13th Service Battalion, then stationed at the White City, London. The last letter from Lieutenant Chilton was written from Dorking on May 10th, and at that time ho did not know when he was going to the front. Apparently he was ordered to the Dar-danelles soon afterwards, and he could only have been there a very short time before he fell in action.
Piper Alexander McDONALD, Private Andrew Maxwell Harris McDONALD and Private James McDONALD, Black Watch, were the third, fourth and fifth sons of Robert McDonald, a Ploughman, and Mary Harris McDonald, of East Kinnear, Kilmany, Fife. Robert McDonald died on 31 July 1915, age 55, and Mary Harris McDonald, who remarried and became Mary Webster, died on 1 November 1918, age 54. One son, James, was born and died in 1898, and their next son, born the next year, was also named James. In the attack by the 2nd Black Watch at Mauquissart on 25 September 1915, the Pipers took a prominent part, playing their companies up to and through the German first and second lines. After three lines had been captured the order to attack the fourth was given. Piper Alexander McDonald alternately played from one trench to the next and assisted in bombing the enemy out of their dugouts. In the third trench he marched, playing "MacGregor's Gathering", down the trench at the head of the bombers, and then climbed onto the parapet and continued playing. As Pipers fell out wounded others took their places, and the battalion was played continuously into and through the action. It appears to have been a tradition among the Pipers of this battalion that they were always to play whenever an opportunity occurred. For his gallantry he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. Alexander was wounded in the action in both legs, had his left leg amputated, was discharged as no longer fit for military duty on 15 December 1916 and, on 27 March 1917, he married Ann Simpson but died on 16 April 1917. The causes of death were registered as Gangrenous Appendicitis, Operation for Appendicitis, Peritonitis. Ann subsequently emigrated to New Zealand and lived at 3 Caroline Street, Roxburgh Street, Wellington. Their eldest brother, Pipe Major Thomas McDonald, Canterbury Regiment, New Zealand, Expeditionary Force, died on 8 May 1915, age 29. On 1 September 1913, Thomas married Clara Ogilvie Ewing, and they had one daughter, Isabella, born 1914. Their brother, Robert, died on 31 July 1915, age 21, of stomach cancer and their sister, Mary, married Andrew Webster and died on 16 November 1918, age 23, of influenza and pneumonia. Surviving siblings were Janet, George, John, David, Margaret and Neil. Alexander died 16 April 1917, age 26, Andrew died 12 November 1914, age 20, James died 4 November 1918, age 19.
MERCHANT NAVY
Corporal John Samuel GRAHAM, born Glasgow, died 11/07/1916, age 34, was the son of John Graham, a Shipbuilder, and Susan Ferguson Graham, of 1 Central Avenue, Broomhill Terrace, Partick, Glasgow. He was a Merchant Seaman and had served as an Engineer on ss River Clyde, which on 25 April 1915, was used as a Trojan horse for the landing at Cape Helles during the Battle of Gallipoli. He came from New Zealand to enlist. Surviving siblings were Neil, Readnor, Susan and Jessie
ROYAL SCOTS
Major David Mitchell TOMLINSON, Royal Scots, Mentioned in Despatches, born 1879, died 13/05/1916, age 38, was the grandson of William FISHER, an Engine Driver, and Margaret Powrie Fisher, of 35 Abbeyhill, Leith, who emigrated to New Zealand with their children about 1857. William Fisher died age 61 and was buried on 28 February 1874. David was the son of Thomas Tomlinson, and Annie Powrie Fisher Tomlinson, born in Edinburgh on 11 May 1845, of "Ngaroma", Fendalton Road, Christchurch, New Zealand. He graduated BSc (Eng) at Otago University in 1904. Probate on his will was carried out by his brother, Thomas Sherwood Tomlinson. Siblings were Annie Powrie, Thomas Sherwood, William Fisher, Charles Edward and Harold Bruce.
THE SCOTSMAN NEWSPAPER
The Scotsman 31 May 1918
WAUGH, Captain George Noel NZVC, died of wounds on 26/05/1917, was the eldest and last surviving son of James Waugh, 61 Granville Street, Glasgow. He was educated at Edinburgh University and Glasgow Veterinary College, and before going to New Zealand some years ago was in business as a Veterinary Surgeon in Glasgow.
The Scotsman 11 August 1917
JOHNSTON, CB, Lieutenant Colonel (Temporary Brigadier General) Francis Earl, was killed in action on 8th August 1917. He was the eldest son of the Honourable Mr and Mrs Charles Johnston, Wellington, New Zealand, and was attached to the New Zealand Forces. The deceased officer was born in 1871, and entered the North Staffordshire Regiment twenty years later. He was promoted Captain in 1900 and got his Majority of 1911. He saw active service with the Dongola Expedition in 1896, in the South African War 1900-1902, and participated in the Gallipoli operations in 1915, when he was on the staff with the rank of a Brigadier-General. He was then mentioned in dispatches, and it was in connection with his work there that he received the honour of Commander of the Bath.
The Scotsman
MARTIN, Major Arthur Anderson MD, FRCSE, New Zealand Medical Corps, was born in Otago, New Zealand in 1876. After a brilliant career as student he graduated with honours at Edinburgh University, then was house surgeon at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and senior house surgeon at the Sheffield .Royal Hospital. He served as a civilian surgeon in the South African War. He joined the RAMC at the beginning of the present war and went through the battles of the Marne and Aisne, being mentioned in Lord French's dispatches of that date for gallant conduct in the field. He was for a time surgical specialist to No 6 General Hospital, Rouen. In February 1916 he joined the New Zealand Medical Corps and died from wounds received on September 17th. Those round him say that he was utterly regardless of danger or self. In New Zealand, where he practised, he will be mourned as a generous and helpful friend by many who loved him and where his ability and dominating personality was admired and respected. He was the author of A Surgeon in Khaki and of various articles in the journals of his profession.
The Scotsman
BOGLE, Captain Gilbert Vere MD, New Zealand Medical Corps, died while attending the wounded. He came from Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, was a graduate of Edinburgh University, and was 32 years of age.
The Scotsman
McQUEEN, MC, Lieutenant John Alexander, New Zealand Force, belonged to Appleby, Invercargill, New Zealand, and was Managing Director of the Southland Frozen Meat Company. He was a nephew of the Reverend Andrew McQueen, Senior Minister of Holburn United Free Church, Aberdeen.
The Scotsman
TORRIE, Private Robert a Galashiels man serving with the New Zealand contingent, at the Dardanelles, has been killed in action. Private Torrie, who was about twenty years of age, was one of a family of brothers well-known among Border athletes as members of the Gala Harriers' Club. As a boy, Robert won the novice championship of Gala Harriers. He left with his brother Peter a year or two before for New Zealand, where they both attained some distinction as amateur boxers, one as a light-weight and the other as a feather-weight. At the outbreak of the War they both enlisted into the New Zealand contingent, and were for some time in Egypt. Another: brother, David, was killed some months ago.
The Scotsman
McDONALD, Pipe Major Thomas, New Zealand Contingent, was the eldest son of McDonald, Easter Kinnear Farm, Wormit. He was killed at the Dardanelles, and leaves a widow and one child, who reside in New Zealand. Before he emigrated, he saw service with the 2nd Black Watch. Mrs McDonald had four sons with the colours. One has been missing since November.
FAMILIES I AM RESEARCHING | MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL STUFF | NEW ZEALAND — ON LINE GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY RESOURCES | NEW ZEALAND — YOUNG BOY IMMIGRANT SCHEME 1911 — 1914 | NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES | NEW ZEALAND MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND LAND WARS — MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR ONE | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR TWO | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY LOCATION | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY CONFLICT | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR — MILITARY NURSES | PAKEHA/MAORI TRANSLITERATIONS | PASSENGER LISTS TO NEW ZEALAND | SHAND — FAMILY HISTORY | SOUTH TARANAKI, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | SPONDON, DERBYSHIRE, ENGLAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | WANGANUI COLLEGIATE SCHOOL 1865 — 1947 | WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES