William Alexander Fotheringham

Died on the 13/10/1918 of illness in the Military Hospital, Curragh, Ireland

William's younger brother Private David Fotheringham (S/5999) of the 10th (Service) Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) died in Salonika on the 13/09/1916 aged 38. They enlisted together. Their Service Numbers were 1 digit apart. David is NOT listed on the Coatbridge Memorial. William also had 2 sons serving at the time of his death. Here is the 1881 Census - Address - King St, Alloa - Philip Fotheringham aged 45, Margaret Fotheringham aged 37, Janet Fotheringham aged 17, William Fotheringham aged 10, Thomson Fotheringham aged 7, Philip Fotheringham aged 5, David Fotheringham aged 3, George Fotheringham aged 7 months. William and the 10th (Service) Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) arrived at Boulogne on the 20/09/1915 and were part of the 77th Brigade, 26th Division up until he was transferred to the 655th Home Service Employment Company, Labour Corps which was formed in January 1917. As an H.S. (Home Service) Employment Company its main role was to service either a military base or establishment (like a hospital). The men in the company carried out basic labouring tasks including cleaning, clerical tasks, moving stores etc and, at times, more specialist tasks including plumbing, tailoring, bricklaying to name a few. William's was part of the Irish Command when he died of illness at the Military Hospital, Curragh, Ireland on the 13/10/1918 just over 1 month before the Armistice. William's funeral took place on the 19/10/1918 at home. A firing party from the Lanarkshire Volunteers marched with reversed arms in front of the hearse. The cortege passed through Coatbridge and Airdrie from William's home to St. Joseph's Cemetery. The coffin was covered in the Union Flag and William's 2 sons marched at the rear of the hearse, 1 in army uniform and 1 in hospital blue. The Lanarkshire Volunteers fired 3 volleys ending with a Boy Scout bugler sounded the Last Post. William is listed as 3rd BATTALION on the Coatbridge Memorial. See photos for William's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, the 1911 England Census, St. Joseph's R.C. Cemetery, William's previous Regiment the Black Watch Cap Badge, the Labour Corps Cap Badge and his Pension Records x 4. William's grave inscription reads "SWEET SACRED HEART OF JESUS HAVE MERCY ON HIS SOUL R.I.P."