John Duncan Leitch

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Category: 1917-18
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John Duncan Leitch

Highland Light Infantry

15th Batt. Highland Light Infantry
He is remembered with honour on the Nieuport Memorial, St Bride’s Church Memorial and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 2 Line 53.

The family home was at 14, West Clyde Street, Helensburgh.The son of John Leitch.
Siblings: Not Known
christina leitchJohn Leitch was born and brought up in Helensburgh, where his father was a potato merchant.
John married Christina Catherine Murray, a domestic servant in Portobello, in 1906. He was employed as a painter/journeyman before enlisting in 1914. Both his parents were deceased before that date.
John was firstly reported as missing in action on the 27th August 1917 before being confirmed as killed in action on 28th June 1918. John died on the Belgian Coast. He was 35 years of age.
Forces War Records show his next of kin as living at Inversnaid but the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have an address for his wife as 1, Culloden Cres, Arbroath.

Harry Webster

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Category: 1917-18
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Harry Webster

Royal Navy

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
He is remembered with honour on the Scottish National War Memorial, the Chatham Naval Memorial, St Bride’s Church Memorial and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 3 Line 34.

The family home was 2, Lorne Street, Helensburgh. The son of Alexander Webster of Cupar and Catherine Webster of Lorne Street, Helensburgh

 Harry Webster was born in Cupar, Fife and at some point moved to Helensburgh. In 1911, he was boarding at 14, West Clyde Street and was employed as a coach painter.
In 1912, he married Catherine Cathbert, of 2, Lorne Street and the couple, with their young daughter, lived with her parents.
Harry joined the Royal Navy as a painter 2nd Class in 1915 and was posted to HMS Vanguard. Having survived the Battle of Jutland, he was killed in an explosion on board aged 29.
His medal entitlement was issued to his widow in 1919 with the words: 'Died on Active Duty'.

William Alan Ure

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Category: 1917-18
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William Alan Ure

royal artillery

Royal Field Artillery
He is remembered with honour on Larchfield School memorial, Merchiston Castle School Roll of Honour, the Congregational Church Memorial and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 3 Line 33.

The family home was Balvaird, 2, Abercromby Street, Helensburgh. The son of William Primrose Ure and Elizabeth McGregor Ure.
Siblings:  William had one brother John Regent who died in infancy.

William Ure was born in Glasgow before moving to Helensburgh with his family. He attended Larchfield School and then Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh. He was a prefect at Merchiston and a keen athlete.
William had planned to join the family business, Messrs John Ure and Sons, flour millers and merchants, but enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery, and was commissioned into the 3rd Lowland Brigade, at the outbreak of war.
He served in Palestine in the B Battery, 262nd Brigade and was mentioned in despatches. William died, from wounds received in the Third Battle of Gaza. He was 23 years old.
His gravestone inscription reads: 'Loyal and Faithful unto Death'.

James Thomson

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Category: 1917-18
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James Thomson

Kosb

2nd Batt. King’s Own Scottish Borderers
He is remembered with honour on the Scottish National War Memorial and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 3 Line 32.

The family home was 90, West Princes Street, Helensburgh.

 James Thomson was born in Glasgow and nothing is known of his early life.
Later he was employed by Messrs Osborne, Contactors, West Princes Street and after marrying he lived at 90, West Princes Street.
James died of gunshot wounds to his back, leg and arm, received in battle, after serving only 5 months in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. He was 20 years old.
The inscription on his headstone reads: 'Private Thomson belongs to Glasgow'.

John Bennet Taylor (Jack)

Details
Category: 1917-18
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John Bennet Taylor (Jack)

Argylls

2nd Batt. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
He is remembered with honour on the Arras Memorial, Scottish National War Memorial, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 3 Line 31.

The family home was 97, West Princes Street, Helensburgh. The son of John Bennett Taylor (butcher) and Euphemia Taylor (nee Young).

 

John Taylor (known as Jack) was born in Alloa and moved to Helensburgh, where his father was a butcher. On leaving school, he followed his father's profession and became an apprentice butcher with Mr John Brown in the town.
Jack married Jessie Robertson (domestic servant) at St Michael and All Angels Church in June, 1915
He enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in November, 1916 and was sent to France the following February.
Jack died, killed in action, only 3 months later. He was 27 years old. His remains were not recovered.  His brother-in-law, David Robertson, was killed in 1915 and is also named on the memorial.

Frederick William Stone

Details
Category: 1917-18
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Frederick William Stone

Merchant Navy

Merchant Marine Reserve
He is remembered with honour on the Scottish National War Memorial, St. Michael and All Angels Church Roll of Honour and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 3 Line 30.

The family home was 6, East King Street, and then 43 Grant Street, Helensburgh.The son of the late John Stone and Elizabeth Stone.
Siblings: Frederick had two brothers, his twin Peter, who served as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers and younger brother, Robert, and one sister, Annie.

balmoralFrederick Stone was born at 5 West King Street in Helensburgh with his twin Peter.
Frederick served on the MMR HMS Balmoral, a paddle minesweeper and had been engaged in minesweeping duties in the North Sea and English Channel for over a year, when he died.
Frederick drowned at sea, his body found washed up at Dunkirk Harbour. He was 30 years of age.
His twin, Peter, survived the war

George Alexander Sillars

Details
Category: 1917-18
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George Alexander Sillars

Highland Light Infantry

5th Highland Light Infantry
He is remembered with honour on the Scottish National War Memorial, the University of Glasgow Roll of Honour, the Helensburgh Baptist Church Roll of Honour, Helensburgh and Gareloch Unionist Roll of Honour, St Columba’s Roll of Honour, and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 3 Line 29.

The family home was Oxford Bank, 74, Sinclair Street, Helensburgh The son of George Alexander (painter and decorator) and Jeanie Sillars
Siblings: George had one sister, Jeanie.

George Sillars was born in Helensburgh, where his father owned a painting and decorating business at 58, Sinclair Street. He was educated at Hermitage Higher Grade School and attended the University of Glasgow, studying dentistry. He was an accomplished musician and played in the Baptist Church. He also played the organ at Dunfermline Abbey while stationed there with the RAMC

George originally enlisted to the Royal Army Medical Corps before transferring to combat duties and served in the Mediterranean, in Egypt, and at Gallipoli before fighting in the Battle of Jerusalem with General Allenby’s forces.

George was killed in action, probably at the Battle of Beit Ur el Tahta. He was 22 years of age.

  1. Neil Sharkey

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