William Dixon Begley

Died on the 21/03/1915 at the No. 1 General Hospital, Havre of gunshot wounds to the right thigh received on the 06/03/1915 near La Brasserie

William and the Battalion were in Allahabad, India from 11/12/13 to 15/10/1914 They returned to England and were they were transferred to the 81st Brigade, 27th Division before they arrived at Boulogne on the 20/12/1914. William Died of Wounds to the right thigh received on the 06/03/1915. He wrote to his parents confident of a complete recovery, but he Died from these Wounds in the No. 1 General Hospital at Le Havre on the 21/03/1915. The Battalion War Diary for the 5th/6th March 1915 states - "The Battalion remained at RENINGHELST until 5th March. During this period the Battalion were twice warned to be ready to march at short notice should conditions in the trenches necessitate reinforcements. The Battalion marched from RENINGHELST at 2.20pm halting at the HUT SHELTERS behind DICKEBUSCH for teas. At 5.15pm the leading company marched through DICKEBUSCH to LA BRASSERIE, followed by remaining companies at intervals of 1/4 hour, to take over the RIGHT SECTION trenches, with Battalion Headquarters at LA BRASSERIE. Casualties during this period - 4 men wounded". SEE PHOTOS x 11 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FROM FEBRUARY - MARCH 1915. William's trench possessions contained letters, a prayer book, a broken pipe, a disc and a school certificate. He is listed as aged 23 by the CWGC. In Newspaper clipping he is listed as aged 20. A photo of the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery (courtesy of the Scottish Monumental Inscriptions) states - Erected By Catherine Hood In Loving Memory Of Her Husband Robert Begley Died 11/02/1929 Aged 77, Their Family - Hugh Died 28/11/1905 Aged 19. Sarah Died 11/02/1915 Aged 26. William Died of Wounds At Havre, France 20/03/1915 Aged 21. William is also remembered on the East United Free Church and the Maxwell Parish Churches Rolls of Honour (see photos). See photos for William's Medal Index Card, remembered at the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery, William listed in the De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Etretat Churchyard, the Royal Scots Cap Badge, William's Pension Records x 3 and his Service Records x 14. William's Grave inscription reads "HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE". Finally. see photos x 6 for Newspaper clippings (Coatbridge Express x 3, Coatbridge Leader x 1 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertise x 2) for information from the Hospital he was in, letter he sent home and more information on this brave young soldier, see photos x 12 for the 27th Division Order of Battle (the Division he was with when he died) and 3 more Newspapers clippings (Daily Record x 1, Coatbridge Express x 1 and the Coatbridge Leader x 1).