Section O

We are now in Section O. It is a wider section than section C. We will hear about Charles Ferguson Blair, William John Crookston, John Fisher, Eoin Leitch, Dugald MacDougall, Thomas Coburn Williamson, Samuel Magee, Archie Stevenson, Andrew Stewart, and George C Stewart here. Look at the attached images to get an idea of the stones you are looking for.

Charles Ferguson Blair is buried at Hooge Crater Cemetery. Charles was the son of Mr & Mrs David Blair, 39 Bank Street, and prior to the war had worked with the Clydesdale Bank. He had previously served in East Africa until invalided home. He was killed, aged 25, attacking a German Machine gun.

William John Crookston is remembered at Ploegsteert Memorial, Berks Cemetery Extension, Belgium. William was the only son of William Crookston, 95 Newark Street. He was killed in action, aged 23. William had originally joined the Artists’ Rifles in 1915 before receiving his commission in the Scottish Rifles. He is also remembered on the Greenok Academy Roll of Honour.

John Fisher is remembered at Tower Hill Memorial. John was the son of the late John and Grace Fisher. The Adela was a cargo ship, a 3 masted iron steamer owned by R Tedcastle & co. Dublin. On the 27th December 1917 the defensively-armed Adela was 12 miles NW of Skerries, when without warning, she was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat 100, under the command of Captain Degenhardt Von Loe. 24 lives were lost including John.

Ewin Leitch is remembered at Menin Gate. Ewin Leitch was born in Greenok on 23rd September 1891, son of John, a sugar merchant, and his wife Jessie. Husband of Margaret Alexander Graham. They had married on 7th December 1915 at the Mid Parish Church in Greenok and had one child. They lived 12 Newark Street. He is also remembered on the Glasgow University Roll of Honour. He came to the University in 1909 to study for a Bachelor of Science degree. His principal subject was Chemistry but he also took Mathematics, Geology and Natural Philosophy, graduating on 20th June 1913. Having joined the University Officer Training Corps, Ewin was commissioned in 1911 in the Territorial Force. At the outbreak of the War he became a Lieutenant in the 5th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and left Greenok for Gallipoli in May 1915. He was subsequently invalided home and trained troops, but returned to France in 1917 as a Captain attached to the 11th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. He was killed at the Battle of Pashendaele on 31st July 1917. His battalion was ordered to deploy a defensive flank between the 15th and 8th Divisions along the railway line. It is recorded that: "The support Company, under Captain E Leitch, realizing the 8th Division were not in line successfully formed a defensive flank. With this attempt, to touch personally with Battalion on right, Captain Leitch was himself killed, a real loss to the Battalion."

Doogald McDougall contracted illness when home on leave from France and died at the Royal Infirmary, aged 25. He had worked at the Greenok Provident Bank. He was the eldest son of Captain Allan Macdougall (Williamson & Co’s Steamers) and of Mrs Macdougall, 2 Florence Place, Finnart Street. On the day of his funeral “Despite heavy rain, a numerous crowd lined the route and paid sympathetic tribute to the dead. The grave was covered with many beautiful wreaths”

Thomas Coburn Williamson, of the Black Watch, is remembered at Loos Memorial. Thomas was the son of Mrs Margaret S Williamson, 29 Lacrosse Terrace, Hillhead and the late James Williamson. He was 23 years old. A 2nd Lieutenant, he arrived in France in July 1915. His death was accepted as being on or since the 26th September 1915 at the Battle of Loos. His body was never recovered.

Samuel Magee, of the East Lancashire Regiment, was the son of Samuel and Annie Magee, of 38, Main Street and husband of Sarah Jackson Magee. Samuel was severely wounded in the face by gunshot. He had been in France since August 1914 and had seen service in India and South Africa. He died at Nottingham War Hospital, aged 33.

Archie Stevenson is buried at Wytschaete Military Cemetery. Archie was the son of John Benson Stevenson and Jessie Stevenson, 37 Forsyth Street. He had previously served with the 14th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. The 8th Black Watch were fighting at Kemmel Ridge on the day of Archie’s death, as part of the Battle of the Lys.

Andrew Stewart is remembered at Basra Memorial. Andrew served with the Inland Water Transport, receiving his commission in November 1916. He is noted as having drowned. His body was never recovered. Interestingly the Mesopotamian Fleet and men had their supply base at Glasgow. He was the son of the late Thomas H Christie, 4 Finnart Street and brother of George, who was also killed.

George C Stewart is buried here. George attested in London on the 27th September 1915 with the Royal Army Medical Corp and transferred to the Black Watch while in Alexandria. He served in Alexandria then France. George was initially reported dead, but this was amended. He was discharged in December 1918 as no longer physically fit, after a finding of the Medical Board at Stobhill. He died of wounds received in action on the 2nd September 1918. George was the son of the late Thomas H Christie, 4 Finnart Street and had worked as a clerk.

When you are ready, move into the next Section, Section P. It is best to go over to the road first, in order to avoid triggering other sections. Section P is off to the right