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Hewer, Charles William

Charles William Hewer

Argylls

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
He is remembered with honour on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Scottish National War Memorial, Larchfield School memorial, Merchiston Castle School memorial, St Bride’s Church Roll of Honour, Helensburgh and Gareloch Unionist Association Roll of Honour and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 2 Line 49.

The family home was at Bowling and also with his aunt, Miss Freebairn, at 5 Glennan Gardens, Helensburgh.
The son of Captain W.C Hewer and Mrs Jessie Hewer..

 

Charles Hewer was born in Bowling and educated at Larchfield and Merchiston Castle, Edinburgh. He worked at the Glasgow Office of the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Co., before joining up. Charles joined as a private service No. 2559 at the outbreak of war, then gazetted as Lieutenant to the London Scottish Battalion in July, 1916.

Charles died, killed in action at Passchendaele aged 22. His remains were not recovered. 

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Young, George William

George William Young

Black Watch

4th Batt. Black Watch
He is remembered with honour on the Scottish National War Memorial, Larchfield School Memorial, the Park Church Roll of Honour and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 4 Line 39.

The family home was Rockmount, 108, Sinclair Street, Helensburgh.The son of James and Laticia Lillah Young.
Siblings: George had three sisters, Margaret, Alma and Gertrude.

George Young was born in Helensburgh, attended Larchfield School and had been working in India as a tea planter when war broke out. He had connections with India as both his mother and older sister had been born in Bengal.
He returned at the outbreak of war and enlisted in the Black Watch.
Initially, he was reported as missing. Then his mother received a postcard stating her son was in a German hospital in Limburg. William died, from wounds received in battle, at the age of 36.
His family's inscription on his gravestone reads: 'In Loving Memory of George, Underneath are the everlasting arms'

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Wright, William Milne

William Milne Wright

RAF

Royal Air Force
He is remembered with honour on the Scottish National War Memorial, the St. Columba’s Church Roll of Honour, Helensburgh and Gareloch Unionist Association Roll of Honour and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 4 Line 38.

The family home was 21, Colquhoun Square, Helensburgh. The son of Annie Wright
Siblings: William had one younger sister, Alice.

William Wright was born in Helensburgh and brought up in the town. He was born at Cairndhu where his father worked as a coachman for former Glasgow Lord Provost John Ure. By 1911, his mother, Annie was head of the household and he was single and living at home, at Myrtlebank, 15 Henry Bell Street, with his younger sister. William was employed with Wm. Jack as a joiner.
He was described as a keen shot in the local territorials before enlisting in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was later commissioned into the King's Royal Rifles before moving to the Royal Flying Corps.
William died at the age of 29 in a flying accident over East Scotland. He was killed instantly.He was buried at Helensburgh Cemetery with full military honours.
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Wilson, John

John Wilson

RAF

142 Squadron, Royal Air Force
He is remembered with honour on the Park Church Roll of Honour and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 4 Line 37.

The family home was Bath Cottage, 127, Princes Street, Helensburgh. The son of the late Charles Wilson and Jeanie Wilson
Siblings: John had five brothers, Charles, Colin, David, William and Robert, and one sister, Elizabeth. Colin served as a sergeant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was badly wounded. David served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and died in July 1918. Robert served as a Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade and became a prisoner of war in Germany.

John Wilson was born and brought up in Helensburgh. On leaving school he was employed as a watchmaker in the town.
John enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (service no. 100842) at the outbreak of war, transferring to the Royal Air Force as a Trade Instrument Repairer.
John was transferred by ambulance to the Palestine Hospital with 'Inflammation of the right leg'. Later, he died of Malarial Fever. He was 36 years old.
His mother had his gravestone inscribed: ‘Faithful unto death’.

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Wilson, David

David Wilson

Argylls

9th Batt. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
He is remembered with honour on the Soissons Memorial, the Scottish National War Memorial, the Park Church Roll of Honour and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 4 Line 36.

The family home was Bath Cottage, 127, Princes Street, Helensburgh. The son of the late Charles Wilson and Jeanie Wilson
Siblings:  David had five brothers, Charles, Colin, John, William and Robert, and one sister, Elizabeth. His brother, Colin served as a sergeant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was badly wounded. Brother John served in the Royal Air Force and died in October 1918. Brother Robert served as a Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade and became a prisoner of war in Germany.

David Wilson was born and brought up in Helensburgh. On leaving school he was employed as a bank clerk with the Bank of Scotland in the town.
David was reported as wounded in September 1917 and again in May 1918.
He was reported as missing in July 1918 and later confirmed dead, killed in action, on that date. He was 25 years old.
His remains were not recovered.
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White, James Alistair

James Alistair White

29th canadian infantry

29th Batt. Canadian Infantry
He is remembered with honour on the Vimy Memorial, the Park Church Roll of Honour and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 2 Line 24.

The family home was 122, East Princes Street, Helensburgh. The son of Lewis White (gardener) and Mary White
Siblings:  James had two sisters, Mary and Elizabeth.

James White was brought up in Helensburgh, where his father was a gardener. He followed his father's trade and on leaving school became a gardener at Moorpark, Cardross before emigrating to Canada. He married Catherine White and lived at 330, 8th Avenue East, Vancouver, where they were bringing up two children.
He enlisted in the Canadian Infantry to return and fight for his country. James died, killed in action, at Vimy Ridge. He was 33 years old.
His remains were not recovered

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Welsh, Patrick

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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Webster, Harry

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'.

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Watson, James Henry Digby

James Henry Digby Watson

Royal Navy

Royal Navy
He is remembered with honour on the Scottish National War Memorial, Chatham Naval Memorial, King’s School memorial, Edinburgh Academy memorial, the RFU Memorial at Twickenham, St Michaels and All Angels memorial and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 1 Line 5.

The family home was Westwood, Helensburgh. The son of Captain J.H. Watson RN and Mrs E.V. Watson.
Siblings:  Digby was an only son with one sister, Greta.

 James (known as Digby) was born in Helensburgh, where his father was an Engineer Captain in the Royal Navy.
He studied at King's School Canterbury, Edinburgh Academy and then for a M.A. at Edinburgh University where he played rugby for the 1st XV, as well as winning the middleweight boxing championship and winning the long jump each year. He joined the Royal Navy as a surgeon and was posted to HMS Hawke, he died when HMS Hawke was torpedoed. Digby was 24 years old when lost at sea.
The submarine’s first torpedo hit HMS Hawke, igniting a magazine and causing a tremendous explosion, which ripped much of the ship apart. Hawke sank in a few minutes with the loss of her Commander and 523 men.

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Rae, John

John A.B. Rae

Royal navy division

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
He is remembered with honour on the St Columba’s Roll of Honour and Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 4 Line 26.

The family home was Fell End, Lee Hall, Pinch Me Near, Bellingham, Northumberland.The son of Thomas and Isabella Rae.
Siblings: John had at least one older brother, Peter, who served and survived. The Lych Gate to Bellingham cemetery records the fallen and those who served. Both brothers are named along with an A. Rae, but it is unknown if he is a sibling.

John Rae worked as a Clerk on the North British Railway and, although not a native of the town, he was working at Helensburgh Station. A report in the Helensburgh and Gareloch Times reports him joining the Royal Naval Division.

John served with the 63rd Naval Division, Hawke Battalion. He was gassed and eventually invalided out from the Navy. He died at home in Bellingham, Northumberland of TB, caused by gassing. He was 24 years of age.

He is buried in a family grave with his parents at Bellingham. In 2010, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission erected a CWGC headstone. John Rae is remembered in his adopted town on the Helensburgh Roll of Honour and is also honoured on the St Columba’s Church memorial.

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