1918 began with a considerable increase in German forces now opposing the British lines after the defeat of Russia in the east, writes Neil Owen.
With the mutinies of the French army and the adoption of a primarily defensive posture by French military leadership after the disasters of 1917, the British agreed to take over 70 miles of the forward line previously held by their ally. This section was poorly maintained and was actually being reclaimed in places by apathetic French civilians actively filling in trenches and clearing wire. Work, both to correct and man the defences, left the British forces considerably over stretched and under resourced.
German Intelligence operations identified the weakness and prompted the German High Command to launch a massive attack across the Somme/ St Quentin front during the spring of 1918.
This would be known as the “Kaiserschlacht” (The Kaiser`s Battle) and employed new tactics, concentrating artillery fire on communications, railheads, and key installations, while driving forward in specially organised, aggressive infantry assault groups.
The British 5th Army and support arms, containing the 9th (Scottish) Division, took the brunt of the offensive, which almost succeeded in breaking through the British lines.
The Germans advanced 40 miles before being stopped. The Fifth Army was shattered and its commander, General Sir Hubert Gough, was made a scapegoat, quite unjustifiably – he had surely been given a poisoned chalice.
The British and French agreed to have a joint command, under General Foch, to achieve better co-operation. Further German attacks were held by British and French reserves, and the British would go on the offensive with new tactics, tanks and air support in the successive Battles of the Marne, Amiens, Somme, and finally through the Hindenburg Line and on to the Rhine and German defeat.
British Losses in the Great War totalled 744,000 men dead or missing, more than twice that number wounded. It was a toll which affected virtually every community in the country and disproportionately so across Scotland.
Oban’s losses affected the town with exponential effect, the collective grief over the loss of so many young men destroyed many families. Many fortunate enough to return from the battlefields would suffer life-long torment and depression, conditions we recognise today as PTSD, but were then countered by means which only exaggerated the distress.
The writer H.G. Wells was wrong in his postulation. In the belly of the trench warfare, a new evil was gestated, one which would again visit Europe in only two decades hence.
Mary MacPhail of Quarry Road would write this tribute to her lost sons in 1918:
‘The silent grief that is in our soul no human eye can trace
For many a broken heart is hid behind a smiling face.
But the hardest blow is yet to come when the warriors all return
And we miss among the cheering crowd the faces of our sons.’
Private Patrick MacDonald s/n 9572, 10th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was born on September 25, 1890 in 13 Back Shore Street, Oban to Andrew, a tailor from Glasgow, and Sarah Grant, from Glenelg.
The family has moved first to Ardnamurchan where five of their children were born and then to Oban, where Patrick and his sister were born. By the outbreak of war, Patrick (or Peter) had moved to Glasgow where he enlisted with the 1st. Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was sent to France in February 1915. During his time on the front line, he had medical treatment for shock and a perforated ear drum, and was invalided back to the UK in June of that year.
He married Margaret Hurst in September 1916 and their son, Patrick, was born the following year. They lived in Paisley and Margaret and her family eventually emigrated to Hamilton, Ontario. Patrick was killed in action on August 23, 1918, aged 27. He is buried within Heath Cemetery Harbonnieres, grave III.J.8, France.
Private John Malcolm MacCallum (Dunn), s/n 41960, The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), left, was born in January 1899 to Christina MacCallum, daughter of John MacCallum, tailor at 13 High Street. He was brought up from infancy by his aunt and uncle, Catherine and Richard Dunn, whose surname he took and was educated at Oban High School. He also was a member of the Boys’ Brigade. Before and after leaving school, he assisted his uncle in his work as a rabbit trapper. He joined the Black Watch in March 1917 and was killed six months later.
Private MacCallum died in a casualty clearing station in France on September 15, 1918 from wounds received in action the previous day. He was 18 and was buried at Ligny-St. Flochel, British Cemetery. Averdoingt, grave IV D 25, France.
Lance Sergeant Roderick MacDonald MacKenzie M.M. s/n 41534, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, above, was born on April 29, 1893 at Dunning, Perthshire to Roderick, a coachman and his wife, Annie MacLachlan. They lived in Errol where Roderick was the third child of three sons and a daughter. The family moved back to Annie’s old home at Margaret Cottage, Soroba Road (later Edina Villa). On leaving school, Roderick was employed on the office staff of the Goods Department of the Caledonian Railway Company in Oban. He joined the Gordon Highlanders and was awarded the Military Medal for ‘gallantry in the field and showing exceptional courage and determination in the face of grave danger while covering the removal of part of his Company to other prepared positions’. He attained the rank of Lance-Sergeant but was fatally wounded on August 23, 1918. He was 25 years of age and was buried at Douchy-Les-Ayette British Cemetery, grave 1 D 2. France.
Private James Jeffrey s/n 19602, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, was born in 1899 in Glasgow into a family of coal miners. By the time he was 12, he was living with his uncle, James Jeffrey, and his wife, Jessie, who ran Creagan Inn, Appin.
Also living there were two of young James’ cousins, William Brodie and David Stewart aged 14 and 13 respectively. On leaving school, James worked for the North of Scotland and Town and Country Bank, Oban. He joined the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders and died from wounds received in action on August 23, 1918. Private Jeffrey was buried within Bac-Du-Sud British Cemetery, Bailleulval, grave III B 21, France
Private Gilbert Campbell s/n 214112, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders, was born on April 9, 1899 at 24 High Street to Colin, a master baker, and his wife, Catherine MacGillivray. He had an older sister and three younger brothers. A further four daughters were subsequently born to the family, who moved to 33 Combie Street and Gilbert was a pupil at Oban High School.
He was the grandson of Gilbert Campbell, a blacksmith with Mr Archibald Carmichael. Gilbert was an apprentice plumber with Messrs. Anderson and Nisbet.
He enlisted with the Black Watch in Stirling but was later transferred to the Gordon Highlanders. After a period of training in Scotland, he was sent to England and, following the German offensive which opened in March 1918, he crossed with his Battalion to France where he was shot while engaged on patrol duty. A comrade later wrote to his parents and said his death had been almost instantaneous and his last thought was of his mother. He died on August 30, 1918, aged 19. Private Campbell was buried at H.A.C Cemetery, Ecoust-St. Mein, Plot 1 Row C Grave 30, France.
Fourth Officer Archibald McCurdie, Mercantile Marine, right, was born in Belfast in 1892 to Archibald McCurdie, a joiner from Accrington in Lancashire and Ellen Turner, who came from Dalavich.
His father died soon after, leaving his widow, daughter, Bessie and Archie. The family moved to 42 Combie Street and Archie attended Oban High School. He was also a member of the Boys’ Brigade.
By 1911, the family had moved to Partick and Archie was an apprentice engineer and machine tool maker. At the onset of war, he joined H.M. Transport Division and served as Fourth Engineer Officer on S.S. City of Glasgow. Fourth Officer McCurdie was drowned at sea as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine on September 1, 1918, aged 26. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Private William Alexander Proctor, s/n 203233, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders was born on January 21, 1894 in Barony, Glasgow to William, a slater and plasterer, and his wife, Annie Morrison, from Inveraray. By 1901, his father was dead and William lived at 11 Argyll Street, Oban with his mother, three sisters and two brothers. He was a member of the Boys’ Brigade. Ten years later, the family were at 2 Shore Street and William, 17, was a message boy with a licensed grocer in the town. Private Proctor joined the Gordon Highlanders when war broke out but died of wounds on September 27, 1918, aged 24. He was buried at Lowrie Cemetery, Havrincourt, grave J. 19, France.
Second Lieutenant James Bunting McKillop, 5th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was born on 15th July 1879 at 4 Combie Street to Dugald, a baker, and his wife, Mary Cook. He was the youngest in a family of one daughter and seven sons.
The family moved to Lorn Terrace and James was still a scholar in 1891. Ten years later, he was a hairdresser living in Galloway Street, Falkirk. He emigrated to Johannesburg, South Africa and settled and married Katrine Alice McKillop. When war broke out, he returned home and enlisted with the Cameronians, into which regiment he was commissioned. He was killed in action on September 27, 1918, aged 39. He is buried at Moeuvres British Cemetery, grave D.19.France.
Robert Thomas Forbes Ross s/n 22983, Highland Light Infantry was born on September 30, 1896 in Methil, Fife to William, a minister and missionary and his wife, Agnes Douglas Forbes from Oban. By 1901, the family was living in Tweedsmuir in the Borders and Robert was their only child. Ten years later, Robert lived at 1 Strathaven Terrace, Oban, where he was a pupil and dux of Oban High School. His parents moved to Sutherland and Robert joined the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He died from wounds on September 29, 1918, the day before his 22nd birthday. Private Ross was buried within Pont d`Achelles Military Cemetery Nieppe, grave 3 E 17. France.
Private Archibald McPhail s/n 41228, 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, right, was born on June 23, 1898, at Park Gate Cottage to James MacPhail, a gas stoker and later manager, and his wife, Mary Carmichael. He was a twin but sadly his sister Teanie (Christina) died when she was eight. He had an older brother, James Alexander, a younger sister, Mary and a younger brother Alexander. Archie attended Oban High School and was a member of Oban’s Boys’ Brigade. He originally served with the Argylls then the Seaforth Highlanders. He died two days after his brother, on October 19, 1918, aged 20. Private MacPhail was buried at St. Souplet British Cemetery, grave IB 3, France.
Gunner Donald Cameron MacDonald, s/n 300199, 4th (Highland) Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery was born on November 3, 1896 at 8 Dalriach Road to Donald, a lorryman and coachman, and his wife, Mary Ann MacDonald. His grandmother was Mrs MacDonald, Craig House, Albert Road. By 1901 the family lived in Tweedale Street and Donald was the youngest of four sons and a daughter. The family then moved to Rockbank, Ardconnel Road and when war broke out he and two of his brothers, Angus and James, joined the Argyll Mountain Battery, with Donald a driver in the unit. The Battery was mobilised in August 1914 and Donald fought with the Brigade in Egypt, the Dardanelles and Macedonia. Gunner MacDonald died at Salonica on October 1, 1918, aged 21, and was buried at Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, stone 472, Greece.
Gunner Donald MacDonald, s/n 300216, 4th (Highland) Mountain Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery, was born October 29, 1883 at 11 Quarry Road to Donald, a stone mason, and his wife, Mary MacDiarmid, both of whom were natives of Skye. In the census records of 1891, the family was still living in Quarry Road and comprised Donald and his two sisters. He was a pupil of Oban High School. The family moved back to Skye where Donald was employed as a painter’s apprentice. He enlisted with the Argyll Mountain Battery as a Gunner. Gunner MacDonald contracted pneumonia while serving in Salonica and died on October 4, 1918, aged 34. He is buried at Doiran Military Cemetery, grave V H 8, Greece.
Able Seaman Hector Munro MacKinnon, s/n Clyde Z 7437, Hawke Battalion R.N. Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, was born on February 10, 1892. He was the first-born of twins, at Henderson’s Land, Tobermory to Neil, a fireman and his wife, Jane Munro. The family then moved to Park Gate Cottage, Duncraggan Road, Oban, where his twin sister Mary sadly died at 13 months from measles and bronchitis. By the census of 1901, Hector lived with his parents, older sister Annie, two older brothers John and Allan and a younger brother, Angus. By 1912, the family took over the tenancy of The Nook on Duncraggan Road, owned at that time by James Walter Higgins, manager of Oban Distillery. Hector’s father, Neil, was the gardener and remained so till 1921. Hector attended Oban High School and joined the Royal Naval Division, Hawke Battalion in 1915. He went to France early in 1916 and was wounded several times. He also took part in the fighting at Cambrai in 1917. Able Seaman MacKinnon died on October 8, 1918 and is commemorated at Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Panels 1 &2, Pas de Calais. He was 26.
Private Donald Kennedy, s/n 24730, “C” Company, 1st/5th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, was born on June 10, 1899 at the Police Station, Dunoon, to Donald, a police constable, and his wife, Bessie White. The family grew to three sons and a daughter and was still in Dunoon in 1911. Donald joined the County Territorials as a boy soldier in 1914, followed by transfer to the Seaforth Highlanders. He was killed in action on October 13, 1918, the day before peace was declared. Mrs Kennedy, living by now at 1 Burnbank Terrace, had lost her eldest son in 1915 on Christmas Day and her husband, who had died shortly afterwards. Private Donald Kennedy was 19. He is buried at Avesnes-Le-Sec Communal Cemetery Extension, grave C.25, France.
Private James Alexander MacPhail, s/n 254022, 1st/6th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, left, was born on August 10, 1896 at Park Gate Cottage, Duncraggan Road to James, a gas stoker, and his wife, Mary Carmichael. By 1901 the family, consisting of two sons and two daughters, was still living at Park Gate and in 1911 had moved to Quarry Road, with the father and his sister, Christina, both dead. A further son had been born in 1903. James attended Oban High School and was in the Boys’ Brigade. On leaving school, he became an apprentice bootmaker. He enlisted with the Argylls in Dunoon. He completed part three of the general Musketry Course and was attached to the Lewis Gun Section before being sent to France in 1916. He was gassed in April 1918 and sent to 51st Casualty Clearing Station the following day, then to hospital in Calais, then Boulogne. After recovering, he was sent to 5th Reinforcement Camp at the beginning of October and rejoined his battalion on October 14. Three days later, on October 17, 1918, he died, aged 22. His effects were sent to his mother: two religious books, a pocket book, letters, photographs, cards and a disc ring. Private James MacPhail was buried at Iwuy Cemetery, B 5. France.
Private Peter MacIntyre, s/n 17505, 10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, was born in 1887 in Glasgow to Peter, a railway driver, and his wife, Helen MacCorquodale. Helen was the daughter of Alexander MacCorquodale, a police constable and his wife who lived at 8 Glenshellach Terrace, Oban. Alexander was a well-known piper in the town. Peter worked as an asylum attendant in Lochgilphead before enlisting with the 10th Bn. HLI as a Piper. Peter’s mother was dead by 1916, when he married Janet (Jessie) McIndoe while on leave from active service. Private MacIntyre died suddenly from wounds at a casualty clearing station on November 8, 1918, aged 31. He was buried within St Andre Communal Cemetery, plot I.A. 66, France.
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