The 27 Former Pupils
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The 27 Former Pupils William Dickie Andrew was born on the 19th May 1894 at Carriden School House, Bo'ness. His father was William Smith Andrew who was a schoolmaster at the school. His mother was Marion Forbes Andrew (nee Nelson). In 1901, the census records the family still living at the same address. The father was 44 years old and his wife was three years younger. Young William was the third of four children. The oldest was his sister, Catherine Robertson Andrew who was 11 years old. Robert was next oldest at nine while William was six. The youngest in the family was Jane Young Andrew aged four. On 1st July 1910, William is mentioned in the University of Edinburgh Roll of Linlithgow Academy school log book as Honour having passed his Intermediate Certificate. His classmates who passed at the same time, Bryce Dymock and Hamish MacDonald also died in the Great War. The 1911 census shows the family still living at Carriden School House where William's father was listed as having the post of head teacher. His sister Catherine had left the family home and his brother Robert's profession was noted as being a medical student. William was 16 and still at school as was his younger sister Jane. Between 1913 and 1914, William was attending Edinburgh University studying law as his main degree. When war broke out, William enlisted as a Private in the Territorial battalion, Lothian and Border Horse (service number 1366). D Squadron was based in Edinburgh and had drill halls in Linlithgow, Bathgate, Broxburn, Hopetoun, Mid Calder, South Queensferry, Ratho and Winchburgh. Territorial battalions were created to provide a defence force at home during wartime. Soldiers in these units could not be forced to serve overseas but many of them, including William, did volunteer to see action. In 1915, Lothian and Border Horse were ordered to Salonika as part of a French and British force to help the Serbs fight against a Bulgarian invasion. Other former pupils of Linlithgow Academy who volunteered to serve with The Lothian and Borders Horse in Salonika were Hamish MacDonald and William Young. When William returned from Greece, He joined 10th (Cyclist) Battalion who had their headquarters in Linlithgow. The companies of the battalion had drill stations in different locations spread throughout West Lothian. The 10th (Cyclist) Battalion was attached to 15th (Service) Battalion, The Royal Scots (1st Edinburgh). Fellow Linlithgow Academy pupils who also served with 10th (Cyclist) Battalion earlier in the war were Andrew Douglas and Henry Cowan. It was with 15th Battalion that William received his commission on 29th May 1917 as an officer with the rank of Second Lieutenant and was sent to serve in France. Another former pupil of Linlithgow Academy, John Dougal, also served with the 15th. On 21st March 1918, The 15th Battalion of The Royal Scots were involved in the Battle of St Quentin when German forces attacked the British lines in overwhelming strength in thick fog. The Germans broke through in several places and were able to drive deep behind the British defences resulting in chaos and confusion. On the following day, William was recorded as being missing in action and his body was never recovered. Another former pupil of Linlithgow Academy, John Arnott also went missing in action during this attack. William was 24 years old when he died and is commemorated at the Arras Memorial, Bays 1 and 2. On 5 April 1918, the Linlithgowshire Gazette reported: BO'NESS OFFICER MISSING Lieut. W.D. Andrew, Royal Scots Second Lieutenant W.D. Andrew, Royal Scots, reported missing on 22nd March last is the second son of Mr Will S. Andrew, Grange Schoolhouse, Bo'ness, and is aged 23. As a trooper in the Lothian and Borders Horse, he got his baptism of fire at Salonika. On his return home he obtained a commission, and was subsequently sent to France. John Arnott was born on 22nd August 1898 at 19 West Port, Linlithgow. His father was also called John and worked as a shoemaker. He had also been born in Linlithgow. His mother was called Isabella. Her maiden name was Rich and she came from the small hamlet of Edinkillie in Morayshire. In 1901, the family suffered a tragedy when John's new sister, Mabel Isabel died on 8th September aged only 9 weeks. The 1911 census records the family as living at 283 High Street Linlithgow, a home with three rooms having at least one window. John's father was aged 45 and was still working as a shoemaker and was noted as being employed on his own account i.e. running his own business. Isabella was three years older than her husband. Young John was the only child and was 12 years old and attending school at the time the census was taken. On 10th July 1913, the Linlithgow Academy log book records John as passing his Intermediate Certificate. His classmates who also passed James Wilson and William Wright also fell in the war. After he left school, John worked as a clerk in the Linlithgow Branch of the British Linen Bank. At the age of 18, when he was old enough to volunteer for the Army, John joined The 2nd Battalion of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). He was a Private with the service number 38300. On 21st March 1918, The 2nd Battalion of The Cameronians were involved in the Battle of St Quentin when German forces attacked the British lines in overwhelming strength in thick fog. The Germans broke through in several places and were able to drive deep behind the British defences resulting in chaos and confusion. On 24th March, John was recorded as being missing presumed dead. Another former pupil of Linlithgow Academy, William Andrew also went missing in action during this battle. John was aged 19 when he was reported missing. His body was never recovered. He is commemorated on a family memorial in Linlithgow Cemetery and at the Pozieres Memorial, Panel 37 and 38. On 10 May 1918, the West Lothian Courier reported: LINLITHGOW RIFLEMAN MISSING Mr John Arnott, boot and shoe merchant, 238 High Street, Linlithgow, has received official intimation that his son, Pte. John Arnott, Scottish Rifles, has been posted as missing as from 24th March. Before joining the Colours, which he did on attaining 18 years of age, Pte. Arnott was a clerk in the Linlithgow Branch of the British Linen Bank. He is in the 20th year of his age. It is hoped that better news of him will be received soon. On 17 May 1918, the Linlithgowshire Gazette reported: PRIVATE JOHN ARNOTT MISSING Intimation has been received by Mr and Mrs John Arnott, 238 High Street, Linlithgow, that their only son, Private John Arnott, Scottish Rifles, is missing. Before joining the Army, Private Arnott was employed in the British Linen Bank. George Fleming Burns was born on 31st July 1891 at Burnside Cottage, Abercorn, Ecclesmachan. His father, John, was a blacksmith and a native of Ecclesmachan. His mother, Catherine, originally came from Carriden near Bo'ness. Her maiden name was Fleming, a name which was given to George as his middle name. The family gravestone in Ecclesmachan Cemetery reveals that a tragedy befell the family in 1895 when George's brother William died aged only 14 months old. The 1901 census records that John, the head of the family was 42 years old and his wife Catherine was two years younger. George was the middle of seven children. John was 14, James was 12, Henry 11, George nine, Walter eight, Jane four and Agnes two. On 29th June 1906, The Linlithgow Academy log book records George as passing his qualifying exams. Evan MacDonald also passed these exams at the same time. Evan was later to emigrate to Canada but returned to fight in the war and was killed in May 1917. In 1911, the census records the family still staying at the same address. George's father John was now aged 53 and was still working as a blacksmith. Some, if not all of the males in the family were employed in West Lothian's shale oil mining industry. The oldest son remaining at home was James who was now 22 and working as a shale mine roadsman. Henry, aged 21, followed his father to work as a blacksmith. George, aged 19 was employed as a pithead man at a shale mine. The youngest brother Walter, was a year younger than George and was working as a joiner's labourer in the oil manufacturing industry. The sisters, Jeanie, Agnes and Annie were all still attending school. When the war began, George enlisted as a Private, service number 15944, in 12th (Service) Battalion of The Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment). This was a regiment which recruited in Edinburgh. After a period of training in the local area 12th Battalion joined 27th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division and moved to Bordon in Hampshire, England before being transferred to France in May 1915 where 12th Battalion of The Royal Scots saw action at The Battle of Loos. In July 1916, marking the start of the second phase of the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Bazentin Ridge took place. A mass attack was launched by the British Fourth Army across no man's land in darkness on the night of 13/14 July after a brief but ferocious artillery bombardment. As part of the battle plan, 9th (Scottish) Division attacked Waterlot Farm, which was actually a sugar refinery. Although the attacks on the farm were repulsed by the defenders, their attack on Delville Wood was more successful.