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We provide detailed records, personal biographies, and cemetery information for soldiers from Falkirk District who served in the Ypres Salient during WWI. Explore our Roll of Honour and other dedicated sections for comprehensive insights.
Welcome to the Ypres Salient
This site presents the story of the First World War in the West Flanders region. The various categories provide a wealth of information about a range of subjects.
The Roll of Honour category is where you will find the details of all the men from Falkirk District who are buried or commemorated in the Immortal Salient.
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Robert Watt
2nd Lieutenant Robert Watt, 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), Grangemouth. Prior to enlisting in August 1914 he was employed as a Clerk in the Cooperative Soup works in Grangemouth. He was promoted from the rank of Serjeant Major to 2nd Lieutenant. On the 10 August the 18th Division was engaged in the fighting for Glencorse Wood and Inverness Copse on the Menin Road. Robert’s body was found on the battlefield after the war, he was identified from his
Sep 4, 20233 min read
Thomas Wardlaw
Private Thomas Wardlaw, 1/7th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Grangemouth, Falkirk. Son of Henry and Margaret Wardlaw, 25 Dundas Street, Grangemouth. He had two brothers and three sisters. Before he enlisted on 24 October 1914 he was employed as a capstanman at Grangemouth docks. He landed in France with the Regiment on 15 December 1914.
Sep 3, 20231 min read
James Smith
Private James Smith, ‘C’ Company, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, Grangemouth, Falkirk. Son of John and Margaret Smith, 2 Union Place, Grangemouth. He had a brother and four sisters and was employed as a crane man before he enlisted on 31 August 1914. The Battalion was in the line at Hooge. Their trenches were subjected to heavy German artillery fire which commenced at 6.30am and went on for the day.
Sep 3, 20231 min read
Andrew Scott
Private Andrew Scott, 8th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, Grangemouth, Falkirk. Son of James and Elizabeth Scott, 22 Paris Street, Grangemouth. Andrew had four brothers and two sisters and he worked as a Clerk in a shipping company before he enlisted in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and subsequently transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders. The battalion were in the line at Verlorenhoek at Cambridge Trench. At 01.30am on 8 July the battalion took part in a raid on the
Sep 3, 20231 min read
James Scade
Private James Scade, ‘B’ Company, 1st Battalion, Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, Grangemouth, Falkirk. James was the son of James and Margaret Scade. He had a brother Robert and four sisters. He joined the army in 1902 aged 16 and spent twelve years in the army the majority of which was spent overseas. As a reservist, he rejoined his Regiment on the outbreak of war and landed in France on 14 August 1914.
Sep 2, 20232 min read
James Ralph
Gunner James Ralph, ‘B’ Battery, 50th Brigade, Grangemouth, Falkirk. Son of John S and Charlotte Ralph, 17 Wallace Street, Grangemouth. He had a brother John serving in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, John died on 19 March 1919 from influenza. The 9th (Scottish) Division was involved in the Final Breakout, the Battle of Ypres 28 September to 2 October 1918. The divisional artillery were providing fire support at Ledegem to the 36th Division at Hill 41.
Aug 31, 20231 min read
Alexander Nicolson
Gunner Alexander Nicolson, 2/1st Lowland (City of Edinburgh) Heavy Battery, Grangemouth, Falkirk. Son of John and Euphemia Nicolson, 84 Forth Street, Grangemouth. He had two younger brothers James and John. Prior to enlisting he was a Clerk working in the Commercial Bank. He had enlisted in the Queen’s Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry with the service number 2389 and then transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery.
Aug 31, 20231 min read
James Morrison
L/Cpl James Morrison, 8th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment, Grangemouth, Falkirk. Son of John and Isabella Morrison, 1 Bo’ness Road, Grangemouth. He had four brothers and two sisters. He was a traction driver before he enlisted in the 1/3rd Field Company, Royal Engineers, a Territorial Company, in Linlithgow on 6 October 1915, with the service number 5190. He transferred to the 8th Battalion, North Staffordshire Regiment on 7 January 1917 with the rank of Private
Aug 31, 20232 min read
John Taylor Mitchell
Gunner John Taylor Mitchell, ‘D’ Battery, 187th Brigade, Grangemouth, Falkirk. Son of Findlay and Agnes Mitchell, 44 Wallace Street, Grangemouth. John was employed as a house painter in his fathers business. The 41st Divisional artillery were engaged in fire support for the advance towards Zantvoorde in what was known as the Battle of Pilkem Ridge.
Aug 31, 20232 min read
Peter Milne
Private Peter Milne, 7th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, Grangemouth, Falkirk. Son of Alex and Annie Milne, 124 Kerse Road, Grangemouth. He had six brothers, the oldest brother William was killed at the Battle of Arras in April 1917. His brother John was wounded serving with the Australian Infantry, two other brothers were with the colours and another serving with the Navy. Before enlisting in July 1917, Peter was an apprentice baker.
Aug 28, 20235 min read
John Milgrew
Serjeant John Milgrew, 2nd Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, Grangemouth, Falkirk. Husband of Elizabeth. John had been a reservist and emigrated to the United States of America when his time expired in February 1914. He returned to Scotland in October 1914 and reenlisted in his old Regiment. John had two brothers in service with the colours, one with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers and the other with the Scots Greys.
Aug 27, 20231 min read
Daniel McMillan
Private Daniel McMillan, 10/11th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, Grangemouth, Falkirk. He was married to Mary and they lived at 26 Middle Street, Grangemouth, with their two children Mary and Elizabeth. Before he enlisted Daniel worked in a wood yard. On the 26 August the 10/11th HLI relieved the 9th Black Watch and the 8/10th Gordons in the front line. On the 27 August the general offensive, Third Battle of Ypres, continued with the HLI attempting to take Gallipoli Farm
Aug 27, 20231 min read
James McLean
L/Cpl James McLean, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, Grangemouth, Falkirk, Menin Gate Memorial, CWGC. Son of Alexander and Mary McLean, 280 Dundas Street, Grangemouth. Before enlisting in the Gordon Highlanders in August 1914, he was employed by the Anglo American Oil Company at the Grangemouth oil tank depot. He landed in France on 22 June 1915.
Aug 27, 20231 min read
Charles McKerracher
Private Charles McKerracher, ‘C’ Company, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, Grangemouth, Falkirk. Son of Peter and Alice McKerracher, 72 Lumley Street, Grangemouth. Before enlisting in the Gordon Highlanders on 29 August 1914, he was employed by the Anglo American Oil Company at the Grangemouth oil tank depot. He landed in France on 18 December 1915. Before the attack on Verdun in 1916 the Germans initiated a series of diversionary attacks along the allied line.
Aug 26, 20233 min read
William Lapere
Private William Lapere, 1st Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, Grangemouth, Falkirk. The 1st KOSB War Diary records that they arrived in Neuf Berquin at 11am and remained in their billets until 5pm. During the day a German plane was brought down by fire from ‘D’ Company Lewis gun. Shortly after 5pm the Battalion moved off to take up defensive positions between Estaires and Steenwerck. At 6am on the 11 April the Germans attacked in overwhelming force with ’B’, ’C’, and
Aug 26, 20232 min read
John Langley
Private John Langley, 17th Battalion, (Rosebery) Royal Scots, Grangemouth, Falkirk. The 17th Battalion, Royal Scots was a Bantam Battalion. The War Office attempted to assert some form of control over the recruiting process by implementing new height requirements for those enlisting. The limit had previously been 5ft 3in on 8 August and this was raised to 5ft 6in. The age limit was also raised from nineteen to thirty years to a new upper limit of thirty five years.
Aug 26, 20232 min read
John Donaldson Kerr
Serjeant John Donaldson Kerr, 343rd Road Construction Company, Royal Engineers, Grangemouth, Falkirk. 19th Corps were engaged in the opening battle of Third Battle of Ypres known as the Battle of Pilkem Ridge. Prior to the opening of the offensive companies were tasked to work at both Army and Corps level. At Army level the companies were given specific tasks such as building new railways, roads and bridges that would allow the Army to advance.
Aug 26, 20232 min read
Harry James Kerr
Able Seaman Harry James Kerr, Howe Battalion, RNVR, Grangemouth, Falkirk. The Royal Naval Division, 188th and 189th Brigades, were to take part in what became known as the Second Battle of Passchendaele with the planned advance to go beyond Poelcappelle and towards Westroosebeke. The Division was to attack along a 1,500 yard front, across ground which got gradually worse towards the north and being virtually impassable near the Lekkerboterbeek stream.
Aug 25, 20232 min read
David Ogilvy Kemp
Private David Ogilvy Kemp, 8th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Grangemouth, Falkirk. Son of William and Christine Kemp. He had a brother Alexander and two sisters Maggie and Jessie. He was married to Jemima, and they lived at 117 Dundas Street, Grangemouth. They had a daughter Christina who was born on 18 December 1917. On the 31 July, the opening day of the battle known as Third Battle of Ypres, the Battalion attacked the German front line at No Man’s Cottage
Aug 24, 20232 min read
John Inkster
Private John Inkster, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, Grangemouth, Falkirk. Son of George and Helen Inkster, 4 North Basin Street, Grangemouth. His brother George was also serving in the Gordon Highlanders. John was a dock labourer before enlisting at the beginning of the war. The Battalion was in the line at Hooge. Their trenches were subjected to heavy German artillery fire which commenced at 6.30am and went on for the day.
Aug 24, 20231 min read
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