Keith, Harold James Macrae

Details
Category: 1915-16

Harold James Macrae Keith

Australian Imperial Force

4th Batt. Australian Imperial Force
He is remembered with honour on, Lone Pine Memorial, the St. Columba Church Roll of Honour and the Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 1 Line 21.

The family home was 27, Robertson Street, Greenock. The son of Frederick Macrae and Margaret Bryson Keith. Siblings: Unknown.

 

William Bryson, Provost 1884-90Harold Keith was born in Helensburgh where his maternal Grandfather was the Provost of the town. He attended Hermitage Higher Grade School.
He was employed by steel manufacturers Stewart and Lloyds, 4 Oswald St., Glasgow for 4 years before being promoted and sent to the office in Sydney, Australia.
He returned at the outbreak of war with the Australian Imperial Force.
Harold died, killed in action, aged 26. His remains were not recovered.
The Image was taken when Harold was a signaller in the Glasgow Highlanders.

The Grandson of the late, ex William Bryson, Provost 1884-90. Painted by
James Duncan ©Argyll and Bute Council.

Paterson, Duncan Currie

Details
Category: 1915-16

Duncan Currie Patterson

Canadian Expeditionary Force

16th Batt. Canadian Infantry, Manitoba Regiment, Canadian Expeditionary Force
He is remembered with honour on the Canadian War Grave Commission Memorial and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 1 Line 31.

The family home was 75, Sinclair Street, Helensburgh. The son of William and Elizabeth Patterson (nee Currie).
Siblings: Not Known.
Duncan Patterson was born at 75, Sinclair Street in Helensburgh where his father was a mason.
He joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and served in the Boer War for which he earned the Victoria Medal. As a sergeant, he married Mary Conchie and later emigrated to Canada. Wages from his employment there as a stone cutter were low and it took 2 years to save enough to send for his wife and children. Unfortunately, his unit sailed for England before she arrived and their ships passed so closely on the St. Lawrence that they could call to each other.
Duncan died, killed in action, aged 42. He left a wife and 6 children.

Graham, Alva Alexander

Details
Category: 1915-16

Alva Alexander Graham

Royal Scots

6th Batt. Royal Scots Fusiliers. He is remembered with honour on the Loos Memorial, St. Andrew Church Roll of Honour and the Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 1 Line 19.

The family home was at 120, Luss Road, Helensburgh. The son of Richard and Margaret Baxter Graham.
Siblings: Alva had one younger sister, Mary.

Alva Graham was born at 8 Glenfinlas Street in Helensburgh and brought up in the town, with his younger sister, Mary, where his father was a signalman on the railway. On leaving school he followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a railway worker. Alva joined the army in August, 1914 and was killed in action at Loos only 13 months later. He was 20 years old.

Bonnar, James Crawford

Details
Category: 1915-16

James Crawford Bonnar

Argylls

9th Batt. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
He is remembered with honour on the Scottish National War Memorial, St Columba’s Roll of Honour, Larchfield School memorial and Helensburgh War Memorial
Column 1 Line 9.

The family home was Cairnsmore, 16 Queen Street, Helensburgh
The son of Provost, James Dick Bonnar and Isabella Crawford Bonnar.
Siblings: James had two sisters, Helen and Florence.
bonnar funeralJames Bonnar was brought up in Helensburgh, son of the Provost of the town. He attended Larchfield School before training as a stockbroker with his uncle, Fred G. Cook, in Glasgow.
James had been home on leave after the horrors of the Battle of Ypres and was returning by rail when the train was involved in an accident at Quintinshill, near Gretna. Fifteen of the carriages on the troop train caught fire. He died at the scene along with 226 others and with 246 injured. It is, to this day, the country's worst rail disaster.
His body was brought home and his funeral was held in St Columba Church, Helensburgh and he was buried in Helensburgh Cemetery with full military honours. James was only 27 years of age.

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