William Allan Pithie likeness

William Allan Pithie cap badgePrivate William Allan Pithie

1/9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion Highland Light Infantry "B" Company
Service No: 2248

William Allan Pithie grave

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Personal details

Family Information

Son of James (abt 1851-18/02/1900) and Marion Smith Pithie (abt 1952-02/11/1917) of New Cumnock, Ayrshire. William's father James was killed accidentally in a furnace explosion in Calder Iron Works on the 18/02/1900. William's brother Corporal Robert Pithie of the Royal Engineers was Killed in Action on the 20/07/1916 and another brother Private Hugh Pithie of the Royal Engineers also served. In his Will dated 24/11/1914 William left all his property and effects to his mother. From the 1891 Census - Address - Boigside Cottages, New Cumnock, Ayrshire - James Pithie aged 42, Marion Pithie aged 40, Allan Pithie aged 16, Jane Pithie aged 14, Marion Pithie aged 11, James Pithie aged 9, Robert Pithie aged 6, William Pithie aged 2, Robert's Grandmother Jessie Pithie aged 71, boarder George Blackley aged 52. From the 1901 Census - Address - 29 Calder Place, Coatbridge - Marion Pithie aged 49, Allan Pithie aged 26, James Pithie aged 19, Robert Pithie aged 16, William A Pithie aged 12, Hugh S Pithie aged 7. William's Pension was awarded to his mother Marion who sadly died on the 02/11/1917 having lost son Robert on the 20/07/1916 and William on the 10/02/1915.

Born / Resided

New Cumnock, Ayrshire / 100b Calder St, Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action on the 10/02/1915 while attending a wounded comrade at Cuinchy

Enlisted

Glasgow 1914

Employed

Engineer in the Chain Works.

Age

26

Buried / Remembered

Gorre British and Indian Cemetery (I. H. 2), Pas de Calais, France.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The chateau at Gorre was occupied early in the war by troops serving with the British Expeditionary Force and the Indian Corps, and the cemeteries, located in the south-east corner of original the chateau grounds, were begun in the autumn of 1914. Many of those who now lie in plots V and VI of the British section of the cemetery were killed during the Battle of Estaires in April 1918. There are over 930 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated here.

Additional Information

William and the Battalion arrived in France on the 05/11/1914 and were part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division when William was killed while attending to a suffering comrade. The Battalion took part in the affairs of Cuinchy on the 1st and 6th February 1915. William fell 4 days later at Cuinchy. William's 2 serving brothers were present at his funeral at the Cemetery which was 2 miles from the firing line and the burial was conducted by lantern light in a plantation about a mile from where William fell. See Directory for William's brother Corporal Robert Pithie's page. Before the war William served for 5 years with the Royal Engineers (Lowland) Division. Shortly after the outbreak of war he enlisted in the 1/9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion Highland Light Infantry. He returned to Coatbridge dressed in full Highland costume before training for 2 months in Dunfermline. He then joined brothers Robert and Hugh in the firing line. See Newspaper clippings for letter sent to William's mother from the Reverend John M Connor of the 1/9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion Highland Light Infantry. Grave photo donated by Mick McCann at britishwargraves.co.uk. Also see Newspaper clippings for letters sent home by William's brothers and by William himself. He is also remembered at the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery (see photos x 3. A stone was left stating "A TOKEN OF RESPECT FROM HIS COMPANIONS"). See photos for William's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 3, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects x 2, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, Gorre British and Indian Cemetery, his previous Regiment the Royal Engineers Cap Badge, the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge and William's Pension Records x 2.

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

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