Rodger, Mathew Freer

Details
Category: 1916-17

Matthew [Mathew] Freer Rodger

Scottish Rifles

2nd Batt. Scottish Rifles
He is remembered with honour on the Thiepval Memorial, St Columba’s Church Roll of Honour, Larchfield School Memorial, Merchiston Castle School memorial, Corpus Christi Oxford Roll of Honour and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 2 Line 18.

The family home was Rossland, 19, East Montrose Street, Helensburgh. The son of Campbell and Catherine Rodger.
Siblings: Mathew had one older brother, Patrick.
Mathew Rodger was born in Helensburgh and brought up in the town, where his father was a clay pipe manufacturer. He was educated at Miss Johnston's School, Larchfield Academy and Merchiston Castle School, where he was Captain of the school. He attained a B.A. in Greats at Corpus Christi College, Oxford where he was captain of rugby and rowed for the college at Henley. He also studied at Freiburg University and was awarded a BA LLB at Edinburgh in 1911, being admitted as a Writer to the Signet in the same year, later working for Carmichael and Miller WS. He was a keen sportsman enjoying rugby, gymnastics, shooting and sailing off the West Coast.
Mathew was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in September 1914 and left for France in May 1915. He was killed in action successfully taking a German trench near Le Transloy, aged 30 years. His remains were not recovered.
Matthew was married to his fiancée Nell after his death by a decree of declatory of marriage. He had been unbale to obtain leave to return to marry her and Nell gave birth to their son a week after Matthew’s death.

Halsey, Hilton Roderick

Details
Category: 1916-17

Roderick Hilton Halsey

Argylls

9th Batt. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
He is remembered with honour on the Congregational Church Memorial and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 2 Line 4.

The family home was at Park House, 72 East King Street, Helensburgh.
The son of Mr John Halsey (butcher) and Mary Jane Halsey (nee McCrone).
Siblings: Older brother, John, was a butcher, which was a protected profession, and did not serve.

 

Roderick Halsey was born at Ardgowan Place, 77 East Princes Street in Helensburgh and brought up in the town where his father had a butchers shop at 32 East Princes Street.
He was employed as an apprentice with his brother as a flesher before joining up at the outbreak of war.
Roderick died, killed in action, at Ypres. He was 27 years old.
It was reported that he was resident in Glasgow and the time of his death.

McDonald, William

Details
Category: 1916-17

William McDonald

Argylls

9th Batt. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
He is remembered with honour on the Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 3 Line 7.

The family home was at 50, East Princes Street, Helensburgh. The grandson of Captain Archibald McDonald (Yachtsman) and Helen McDonald who lived in Maitland Buildings. The son of Archibald McDonald (house painter).
Siblings: William had an older sister, Mary.

 

William McDonald was born in Glasgow. He was brought up, along with his sister, in Helensburgh by his father, who was a house painter, and his grandparents.

William served his apprenticeship as a baker with Mr McAdam before enlisting in 1915.

William died of wounds received in battle. He was 24 years of age.

Welsh, Patrick

Details
Category: 1916-17

Patrick Welsh

Royal Inniskillen Fusiliers

Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
He is remembered with honour on St Joseph’s Church Memorial (Walsh), and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 2 Line 23..

 



  

Patrick Welsh has been difficult to trace with certainty. The family home was Belfast?
His entry in the Helensburgh Roll of Honour identifies Private Patrick Welsh, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, died April 1916. He is recorded on the cenotaph as Private Patrick Welsh, but a Patrick Walsh is named on the St Joseph’s memorial plaque.
The only Patrick Welsh / Walsh of the RIF who died in April 1916 served as a Lance Corporal in the 7th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and died fighting at Loos. His next of kin is a Mrs M Wylie of Falls Road, Belfast.
Local newspaper reports say Patrick was wounded first in June 1915 and then again on the 21st February 1916, and that he had died in April that year.

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