Profiles

Reid spent 4 years as Private 5921 in 5th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) before he re-enlisted in 1915. This seems to have been during 1909-1913.
In 1915 he attested on 11th November 1915 and was posted to the Army Reserve initially, before being mobilized and posted to 3/5th Battalion Cameronians (a training battalion) on 2nd October 1916. On 19th December 1916 he was transferred to 5th Battalion Machine Gun Corps at Grantham and subsequently posted to 228 Company MGC. This Company embarked for Flanders on 12th July 1917 and joined the 39th Division at Poperinghe a week later.

c June 1887, Waterside, Ayrshire

Nothing is known about how Reid lost his life. The War Diary of 228 Coy MGC is not helpful as the only casualty recorded under 29th July is the wounding of a mule. The nearest casualties before the 29th occurred on the 27th when one OR was killed and another was wounded. Neither is named but it is possible that the man wounded on the 27th was Reid and he did not die until the 29th. He is believed to be buried at Essex Farm Cemetery where he is commemorated by a Special Memorial. Casualties from a nearby dressing station were buried there which may give some weight to the suggestion that Reid was not killed in action but died of wounds. The gravestones in the Glasgow Necropolis and Patna Cemetery both describe him as “fell in action” which is slightly ambiguous.

Essex Farm Cemetery, Sp. Mem. B. 1.
103 of the burials in this cemetery are unidentified but special memorials commemorate 19 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Reid’s memorial stone bears the phrase ‘Their glory shall not be blotted out.’

Son of William and Mary Reid, of Dunaskin, Ayrshire; husband of Christina I. Reid, of 9, Grantly Gardens, Shawlands, Glasgow

William Reid (c1839-1892) & Mary Ann Keay (c1843-1925)

Provision Store Manager

Robert A (1864-), Margaret K (1866-1949), Kate (Mrs Robertson) (1868-), William (1868-1940) married and moved to USA, Edward b & d 1872, Hamilton (1873-1914), Wallace (c1876-), John McS (c1877-1888), James G (c1880-1918),  Charles (c1883-), Annie E (Mrs Bradley) (c1885-)

Christine I Stewart married 16th December 1916, Rutherglen

Not known

Mechanical draughtsman

12 Melville Street, Pollokshields, Glasgow

1915 – 109 Armadale Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow
1916 – Bishops Road, Jordanhill, Glasgow

Waterside House, Dalmellington, Ayrshire

141 Pollok Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow

Scottish National War Memorial
Whitehill UP Church [formerly Dennistoun UP Church]
Patna Cemetery, Ayrshire

Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below.  The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to Ancestry, and Find my past.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Family Search

Scotlands People

The Long, Long Trail

The Scottish War Memorials Project

228 Coy. MGC War Diary July – December 1917 (TNA WO 95/2577/5)

Julia Ferguson Andriessen for family information