William Baxter likeness

William Baxter cap badgePrivate William Baxter

7th (Service) Battalion Cameron Highlanders
Service No: S/22023

William Baxter grave

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Personal details

Family Information

Son of James and Minnie Baxter of 283 New Row, Gartsherrie, Coatbridge. William's elder brother Private David Baxter (12067) of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards was Killed in Action on the 16/09/1916. William's other elder brother James (David's twin) served with the Scots Guards for 15 months before being transferred to the Army Reserve (munitions work) at Gartsherrie Iron Works in August 1916. From the 1901 Census - Address - Shawend, Kilsyth, Stirlingshire - James Baxter aged 34, Minnie Baxter aged 33, Janet Baxter aged 11, David Baxter aged 9, James Baxter aged 9, William Baxter aged 5, Duncan Baxter aged 3, Minnie Baxter aged 4. William's Pension was awarded to his father James.

Born / Resided

Kilsyth / 283 New Row, Gartsherrie, Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action on the 20/07/1916 at the Hohenzollern Section, Loos

Enlisted

Coatbridge /11/1914

Employed

Blacksmith, North British Railways, Kipps, Coatbridge.

Age

21

Buried / Remembered

Loos Memorial (Panel 119 to 124), Pas de Calais, France.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay, from the first day of the Battle of Loos to the end of the war. On either side of the cemetery is a wall 15 feet high, to which are fixed tablets on which are carved the names of those commemorated. At the back are four small circular courts, open to the sky, in which the lines of tablets are continued, and between these courts are three semicircular walls or apses, two of which carry tablets, while on the centre apse is erected the Cross of Sacrifice.

Additional Information

The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 09/07/1915 and were part of the 44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. William was originally posted missing on the 20/07/1916. The confirmation of his death on this date was not received until August 1917. From the Battalion War Diary : "Right Sub Section, Hohenzollern Section July 20 - Enemy intermittingly shelled trenches at HAIRPIN CRATERS with Heavy Trench Mortars. Otherwise the day was quiet. Our heavy Artillery retaliated. Casualties : Other Ranks Wounded, "C" Company 2, "D" Company 2". SEE PHOTOS x 8 FOR THE 15th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION JULY 1916 and PHOTOS x 10 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FROM JUNE - JULY 1916. See Directory for William's brother David's page. William is also remembered in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) and the Albert Street Congregational Church Roll of Honour. See photos for William's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his name on the Gartsherrie Works x 2 and Clifton Church Rolls of Honour, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his name on the Loos Memorial, his name on the Loos Memorial Panel List, his CWGC Grave Registration, the Cameron Highlanders Cap Badge and William and his brother David's Pension Records x 3. Finally, another photo of the plaque remembering William in the Gartsherrie Bowling Club, Coatbridge kindly donated by my friend Davie Johnstone, see photos x 2 for Newspaper clippings (Coatbridge Express x 1 and Coatbridge Leader x 1) and photos of a wreath x 2 placed by myself at Loos Memorial in July 2023 remembering ALL the men who left from the Iron Burgh who are named there and one of myself at the Panel remembering the men of the Cameron Highlanders (William listed top right).

Photos
William Baxter Medal Index CardWilliam Baxter newspaper clippingWilliam Baxter remembered at homeWilliam Baxter remembered at homeWilliam Baxter remembered at homeWilliam Baxter remembered at homeWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photoWilliam Baxter additional photo

War Diaries

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

Creative Commons License

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