George arrived in the theatre of war on the 16/04/1916 with the Royal Engineers. George was seriously wounded on the 01/06/1917 and never regained consciousness. His trench belongings included a French dictionary, a pocket knife and scissors (see Service Record 6). George was formerly with the 8th (Reserve) Battalion Cameron Highlanders (22116) "A" Company. He was transferred to the Royal Engineers on the 07/04/1916. He was posted as a Pioneer to "M" Company on the 09/04/1916 and was then transferred to the Special Brigade on the 16/04/1916 then to "C" Special Company, 1st Battalion, Special Brigade on the 21/04/1916. The Special Companies of the Royal Engineers (poison gas) : The Special Companies at the start of the war : No Special Companies existed in 1914. They were a war time invention. The Great War was the first in which chemical weapons were deployed. There was great moral shock and outrage at the first use of Chlorine, released by the Germans against defenceless French troops in the Ypres Salient. The Special Companies of the Royal Engineers were formed to develop the British response. By 1918, gas was used both offensively and defensively, delivered by a range of sophisticated techniques. SEE PHOTOS x 20 FOR THE ROYAL ENGINEERS SPECIAL BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS WAR DIARY JANUARY - JUNE 1917. George's trench belongings included a French dictionary, a pocket knife and scissors (see Service Record 6). His Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE www.
here. George is also remembered on the Coatbridge High School Roll of Honour and at the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery (see photos) and in the Glasgow University Memorial Chapel. See photos for George's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his Pension Records x 2, Philosophe British Cemetery, George's Service Records x 13, his previous Regiment the Cameron Highlanders Cap Badge, the Royal Engineers Cap Badge and Newspaper clippings x 2 from the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser 09/06/1917.
