Profiles

The 8th Battn Royal Scots was a Territorial battalion and it is possible Bremner was already serving with it when war was declared. The Battalion became the first Scottish Territorial battalion to make it overseas, crossing to France early in November 1914. It is not known whether Bremner was with them at that time but he was certainly serving by May 1915 when he was wounded during the Battle of Festubert on the 16th of the month.  He did not return to the battalion until 16th January 1916. By the time he returned the Battalion had been designated a pioneer battalion and attached to the 51st (Highland) Division with which it spent the rest of the war. He makes few appearances in the Battalion’s War diary although he had a couple of bouts of illness in January and February 1917 which resulted in brief stays in hospital.

4th June 1890, Strathblane

Died of wounds
The Battalion War Diary records his death as follows under 24th June 1917:
Lt J Bremner was wounded early this morning while out at work with B Coy on STIRLING LANE & died during the forenoon in hospital in POPERINGHE. Two more men were wounded today but only slightly. Lt J Bremner was buried in Poperinghe today.

His headstone bears the following quotation: “Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty, Isa. XXXIII XVII”, the same quotation as found on his brother’s gravestone.

Son of A. H. and Grace Bremner of 5, Cobden Crescent, Edinburgh.

Alexander H Bremner (1860-1941) & Grace C Raphael(1863-1942), married 1888

Stockbroker

Frederick R (1892-1893), David (1889-1916)

David Bremner (standing) with his brother James and his mother c1899
From www.bremnerroots.co.uk

unmarried

Merchiston Castle School 1900-1906

Not known

Not known

Not known

Napier Lodge, Strathblane, Stirlingshire

19 Merchiston Park, Edinburgh

Scottish National War Memorial
Merchiston Castle School War Memorial

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 Merchiston Castle School, Ancestry, and Find my past.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Family Search

Scotlands People

The Long, Long Trail

The Scottish War Memorials Project

http://www.johngraycentre.org/east-lothian-subjects/war-battles-military/world-war-one/the-8th-territorial-battalion-the-royal-scots-in-world-war-one/

8^th Battalion The Royal Scots, War Diary August 1915 – March 1919. (TNA WO 95/2851/1)