Francis Gallacher likeness

Francis Gallacher cap badgePrivate Francis Gallacher

7/8th (Service) Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers
Service No: 14455

Francis Gallacher grave

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Personal details

Family Information

Son of Peter Gallagher. According to the newspapers of the time Francis was reared by Mrs Docherty, 20 Whittington St, Coatbridge as one of her own. Francis made a Will which took the form of a letter to his aunt Mrs Meechan of Thornaby on Tees. It was written in Aldershot. Francis' Pension was awarded to his father Peter of 25 Whittington St, Coatbridge.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 20 Whittington St, Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action on the 05/06/1916 at the Hohenzollern Sector, Hulloch

Enlisted

Stockton, Co. Durham

Employed

Tinplate Works.

Age

(No data. If you have details, please add a comment)

Buried / Remembered

Vermelles British Cemetery (III. E. 2), Pas de Calais, France

Cemetery / Memorial Information

Vermelles was in German hands from the middle of October 1914 to the beginning of December 1914, when it was recaptured by the French. The cemetery was begun in August 1915 (though a few graves are slightly earlier), and during the Battle of Loos, when the Chateau was used as a dressing station, Plot I was completed. It was laid out and fenced by the Pioneers of the 1st Gloucesters, and known for a long time as "Gloucester Graveyard". The remaining Plots were made by the Divisions (from the Dismounted Cavalry Division onwards) holding the line 1.6 kilometres East of the cemetery until April 1917, and they incorporated a few isolated French graves of October 1914. From April 1917, to the Armistice, the cemetery was closed; but after the Armistice some graves were re-grouped and others were brought in (to Plots II, IV and VI) from the battlefields to the East. There are now over 2134 First World War casualties commemorated in this cemetery. Of these, 198 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to six soldiers from the United Kingdom, known to be buried among them. This cemetery also contains the graves of 11 casualties of other nationalities.

Additional Information

Francis and the 7th (Service) Battalion and 8th (Service) Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 10/07/1915 and were merged on the 19/05/1916 in Bethune. They were part of the 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. From the 15th (Scottish) Division book - "Several changes took place in the Infantry Brigades during this tour. On May 7th the 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers and 8th Battalion Gordon Highlanders joined the 15th from the 9th Division. They were absorbed into the 7th Royal Scots Fusiliers and 10th Gordons respectively, which were then designated an 6/7th Royal Scots Fusiliers and 8/10th Gordon Highlanders. A week later, on May 13th, the 10th and 11th Highland Light Infantry also arrived from the 9th Division. They were amalgamated into one Battalion, and joined the 46th Brigade. THE 7th AND 8th BATTALIONS KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS OF THE SAME BATTALION WERE ALSO FORMED INTO ONE BATTALION ON MAY 19 WHILST STILL IN THE LINE". The Battalion War Diary - On the 04/06/1916 the Battalion relieved the 7th Battalion Cameron Highlanders in the right sub-sector of the Hohenzollern Sector. The 5th June was listed as a "QUIET DAY". Casualties were 1 Other Rank Killed in Action (Francis), 4 Other Ranks Wounded in Action, 3 Other Ranks Wounded (gassed in mineshaft when on Tunnelling fatigue). SEE PHOTOS x 15 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY JUNE 1916. ALSO SEE PHOTOS x 11 FOR THE BATTALION BOOK JANUARY 1916 - JULY 1916. Francis is listed as GALLOCHER on the Memorial. He is also remembered on the St. Patrick's Church Roll of Honour (see Newspaper clipping). See photos for Francis' Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, Francis' Pension Records x 2, Vermelles British Cemetery and the King's Own Scottish Borderers Cap Badge. Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 11 FOR THE 15th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK APRIL - JUNE 1916, the 15th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 13 (the Division he was with when he died) and Newspaper clippers x 3 (Coatbridge Express x 1, Coatbridge Leader x 1 and the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 1).

Photos
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War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

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