Edward McCosh M.C.

Edward and the Battalion arrived in France on the 05/11/1914 and were part of the 100th Brigade, 33rd Division when Edward fell. Edward enlisted on the 04/08/1914, the day war was declared. He was the only serving officer of the original Battalion who had been continuously serving with the Battalion. On the 26th September Edward was severely wounded at Villers Ghislain and died of these wounds that day. His death was felt as a personal loss by every Officer and man of the Battalion, in which he had served since 1914. He had been offered tempting staff appointments on several occasions, but he had always insisted on remaining with the Battalion he loved. Mobilized as its most junior subaltern, he had commanded the Battalion with distinction during the Battle on Menin Road in 1917, and had acted for long periods as second in command. A Cambridge Rugby Blue, he took the keenest interest in all Regimental games. Always cheery, always fearless, his popularity extended beyond the Battalion through the Brigade and Division. Edward was twice mentioned in despatches by Sir John French, Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in France in June 1915 and was awarded the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field and for carrying out a most difficult and dangerous reconnaissance when he located the enemy in a wood. Edward was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh and Cambridge. The London Gazette states - 1916 - 2nd Lieutenant (temporary Captain) E. McCosh M.C. to be Lieutenant (temporary Captain) 09/07/1916. 1917 - Lieutenant (acting Captain) E. McCosh M.C. relinquishes the acting rank of Captain on ceasing to command a Company 29/03/1917. 1918 - Captain (acting Major) E. McCosh M.C. to be acting Major whilst employed as 2nd in command 19/04/1918. Edward was 4 years at the front. SEE PHOTOS x 8 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FROM 1st SEPTEMBER - 28th SEPTEMBER 1918 (Edward is mentioned in War Diaries 7 and 8). See photos for 3 more images of Edward. He is also remembered on the Gartsherrie Church and Drumpellier Cricket Clubs Rolls of Honour and at the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery (see photos). See photos for Edward's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 4, his Index of Wills and Administrations, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Five Points Cemetery, the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge, another 2 photos of Edward's grave and his name on the Coulter (Culter) War Memorial (next to the Churchyard, South Lanarkshire) x 2. Edward's grave inscription reads "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS".