THIS ADDITIONAL FAMILY INFORMATION WAS KINDLY DONATED BY DAVID'S GREAT NIECE MARGO NICHOLL - "I think he was courting a girl at the time but her mother wouldn't let them marry. She was a buyer for the Coatbridge Co-Op and was saving up. Her name was Christine. I think she never married after he was Killed and gave all her wedding savings to his family and apparently kept in touch with them and died very young herself. There were 10 siblings in David's family, Annie, David, Sarah, John, James, Robert, Agnes, Margaret (my Gran who was 91 when she died), Christine and Francis who died in infancy. James and Robert both died of illness the same year David fell". The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 08/07/1915. David arrived in France 6 days later. The Battalion were part of the 44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. David received his wounds at the Battle of Loos, 25th September - 15th October 1915 : The first genuinely large scale British offensive action but once again only in a supporting role to a larger French attack in the Third Battle of Artois. British appeals that the ground over which they were being called upon to advance was wholly unsuitable were rejected. The battle is historically noteworthy for the first British use of poison gas. The Order of Battle : Gas release to be made along Divisional Front from 5.50am with Zero hour set for 6.30am. In the first instance, Brigade to secure the German front-line area known as, "The Jews Nose", and then press on to secure the enemy's second-line east of Loos village. Once these objectives had been captured, surviving troops were to press on and secure Hill 70. The Brigade was to attack with 9th Black Watch right and the 8th Seaforth Highlanders left, both supported by the 7th Cameron Highlanders. The 10th Gordon Highlanders were to be held in reserve. On the 24/9/1915 Brigade to assembly trenches. "A" Company vanguard. On the 25/9/1915 at 5.50am Gas release commenced followed by smoke release. Germany artillery responded immediately fearful of a British attack. At that time the wind changed, and the lethal gas blew back on the troops mustering to go 'over the top' at 6.30am, causing significant casualties and confusion. At the appointed time, the Battalion went into the attack and carried its initial objectives under heavy fire, suffering further significant casualties. By 8.30am, troops had begun to assault Hill 70, and later in the day attempts were made to press on to Cite St. Auguste and Dinamentiere. On the 26/9/1915 the Battalion relieved at 1am, and fell back on Mazingarbe, where the roll was called. Twenty-two officers and six hundred and eighty other-ranks failed to answer, having been either killed, wounded or taken prisoner. SEE PHOTOS x 12 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY SEPTEMBER 1915. Scottish Regiments lost a huge amount of brave men at Loos. Here is a list of Infantry Battalions who lost more than 500 men at the Battle of Loos from 25/09/1915 to 16/10/1915 - 7th Cameron Highlanders 687, of which 19 Officers, 9th BLACK WATCH 680, OF WHICH 22 OFFICERS, 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers 650, of which 20 Officers, 10th Highland Light Infantry 648, of which 20 Officers, 7th King's Own Scottish Borderers 631, of which 20 Officers, 8th Devons 619, of which 19 Officers, 8th Royal West Kents 580, of which 24 Officers, 8th Buffs 558, of which 24 Officers, 12th Highland Light Infantry 553, of which 23 Officers, 8th Black Watch 511, of which 19 Officers, 5th North Staffordshire 505, of which 20 Officers, 8th Seaforth Highlanders 502, of which 23 Officers. David was 1 of 99 men from the Coatbridge Memorial who fell during and from injuries from the Battle of Loos. David was a member of the Sons of Temperance. David's main grave photo donated by Thierry Dericbourg and the 1st additional grave photo donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. David is also remembered on the Gartsherrie Works Roll of Honour, East United Free Church Roll of Honour, the Maxwell Parish Church Roll of Honour, at the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery (see photos x 2) and in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for David's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, David's Pension Record and the Black Watch Cap Badge. David's grave inscription reads "HIS CHEERY SMILE NO MORE WE WILL SEE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN WILL HE BE". Finally, see photos for Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, additional photos of David's grave x 2, PHOTOS x 13 FOR THE 15th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK ON THE 25/09/1915, PHOTOS FOR 33 PAGES FROM THE MOST UNFAVOURABLE GROUND BOOK REGARDING THE BATTALION and DIVISION 25/09/1915 (fantastic book on the Battle of Loos kindly signed by the author Niall Cherry), the 15th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 13 (the Division he was with when he died), a Wreath I placed at Loos Memorial in July 2023 remembering the men who left Coatbridge never to return and have no known grave, myself with the Wreath remembering David's comrades at 2 Black Watch Panels in July 2023 and Newspaper clippings x 6 (Coatbridge Express x 3, Coatbridge Leader x 1 and the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 2).
