T / W
Charles Grant TENNANT (Seaforth Highlanders, 4th Btn.)
2nd Lieutenant
Born 23 Jul 1882, Co. Durham; Died 9 May 1915, France
Gazetted Oct 1914; posted France Nov 1914; killed in action at Neuve Chapelle “while gallantly leading his platoon in the face of certain death”. Because of the heavy fighting, his men were unable to reach his body. His commanding officer wrote that he’d declined promotion as he wished to remain with the men with whom he’d trained. He is commemorated on Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. In Oct 1917 a stained glass window at Fairlie Parish Church was dedicated in his memory.
He lived at Fairlieburne, and was a company director. He became engaged to Lucy Gibson Hilton, daughter of an American businessman, in Oct 1914.
Allan Hunter THOMSON (Royal Navy)
Able Seaman J60478
Born 29 Aug 1898, Fairlie; Died 10 Dec 1937, Edinburgh
Enlisted Oct 1916.
He lived at Clederion, Tarbert Cottage and Clydeview. He was a ship joiner, and he married Violet Burden in Largs in 1926. He is the brother of David and William Thomson.
David Boyd THOMSON (Rifle Brigade, 19th Btn)
Private 1168 & 201881 (formerly Royal Scots Fusiliers)
Born 22 Jul 1896, Fairlie; Died 15 May 1961, Edinburgh
Enlisted Sep 1914; entered theatre of war Jun 1915; served in the Balkans and Egypt. After being wounded in Jul 1915 and invalided to England, he wrote home describing a visit made by Queen Alexandria to the hospital, and his pride at having shaken her hand.
He was born at Sea View, and lived at Clederion and Tarbert Cottage. He is the brother of Allan and William Thomson.
William Duncan THOMSON (Highland Light Infantry)
Lance Corporal
Born 8 May 1893, Fairlie; Died 1983, Dunoon
Reported in Aug 1915 to have enlisted; and in Feb 1918 to be home on leave from France, where he’d been for some considerable time.
He was born at Sea View, and lived at Clederion and Tarbert Cottage. He was a gardener, and he married Isabella Hastie Brown Rankin in Dunoon in 1925. He is the brother of Allan and David Thomson.
Francis WARD (Royal Field Artillery)
Gunner
Born 7 Aug 1885, West Kilbride; Died 26 Jan 1950, Fairlie
Reported in Feb 1917 to have been called up; and in Jan 1918 to be home on leave.
He lived at 7 Allanton Park Terrace. Prior to the war he was farm labourer, and after a road surfaceman/county cleaning employee. In 1907 he married Mary Ann McLaughlin in Ardrossan.
William WILSON (Royal Field Artillery)
Bombardier
Born 23 Mar 1879, West Kilbride; Died (unknown)
Reported in Nov 1916 to have enlisted a year previously; and in Feb 1918 to have been “engaged on postal duties in London assisting with B.E.F. parcels during the Christmas and New Year pressure”.
He lived at Springbank and Rowend, Mid Row. He was a postman, and was appointed to Fairlie post office in 1901. In 1898 he married Margaret McKinnie, and they had three children. He is the brother of Archibald and Daniel Stalker.
Captain WOOD (R.N.R.)
Born (unknown); Died (unknown)
No information found.