Rank
Captain
Medals
1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Regiment
Highland Light Infantry, 17th Battalion
Military Service
1914 Commissioned Lieutenant on 10th September. Appointed to ’D’ Company on the formation of the 17th HLI (Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion) in September. ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies were recruited from the business houses of the city.
The 17th HLI trained for a year before crossing to France in November 1915. During this period it spent time at Gailes and Troon, Ayrshire, Prees Heath, Shropshire, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, Totley Rifle Ranges, Derbyshire and finally Codford St Mary on Salisbury Plain. In January 1915 Cassels was promoted Captain.
Finally on 22nd November 1915 the battalion, part of 32nd Division, sailed from Southampton for Le Havre and proceeded to the Amiens area. Much of the following months were spent gaining experience of trench warfare and from May 1916 the Battalion was engaged in preparations for the Battle of the Somme which began on 1st July.
Born
Death
1st July 1916
Circumstances of death
Nothing is recorded in the Battalion War Diary of the circumstances of Cassels’ death.
Age
31
Burial
Lonsdale Cemetery, Authuille, II. F. 20.
CWGC Information
Son of Robert and Marion Cassels, of Huntly Lodge, Moffat, Dumfriesshire. Native of Glasgow.
Parents
Robert Cassels (c1849-1913) & Marion Cross (c1853-1940)
Fathers Occupation
Siblings
William C (c1888- ), Gladys M (c1890- )
Spouse
Education
Kelvinside Academy
Fettes School, Glencorse House from 1900
Occupation
Chartered accountant with M’Clelland, Ker & Co
1891 Census
1901 Census
1911 Census
6 Princes Gardens, Partick
Home Address
Glasgow Necropolis
Other Memorials
Scottish National War Memorial (Robert Wilson Cassells)
Acknowledgements and Sources
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 (www.ancestry.co.uk), Findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission – www.cwgc.org
Family Search – www.familysearch.org
The Long, Long Trail – http://www.1914-1918.net/
Scotlands People – www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
The Scottish War Memorials Project – www.warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com
The Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion), Record of War Service, 1914-1918. 1920.
Rank
Captain
Medals
1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Regiment
Highland Light Infantry
Regiment Information
Highland Light Infantry, 17th Battalion
Military Service
1914 Commissioned Lieutenant on 10th September. Appointed to ’D’ Company on the formation of the 17th HLI (Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion) in September. ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies were recruited from the business houses of the city.
The 17th HLI trained for a year before crossing to France in November 1915. During this period it spent time at Gailes and Troon, Ayrshire, Prees Heath, Shropshire, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, Totley Rifle Ranges, Derbyshire and finally Codford St Mary on Salisbury Plain. In January 1915 Cassels was promoted Captain.
Finally on 22nd November 1915 the battalion, part of 32nd Division, sailed from Southampton for Le Havre and proceeded to the Amiens area. Much of the following months were spent gaining experience of trench warfare and from May 1916 the Battalion was engaged in preparations for the Battle of the Somme which began on 1st July.
Born
Death
1st July 1916
Circumstances of Death
Nothing is recorded in the Battalion War Diary of the circumstances of Cassels’ death.
Age
31
Burial
Lonsdale Cemetery, Authuille, II. F. 20.
CWGC Information
Son of Robert and Marion Cassels, of Huntly Lodge, Moffat, Dumfriesshire. Native of Glasgow.
Parents
Robert Cassels (c1849-1913) & Marion Cross (c1853-1940)
Father's Occupation
Siblings
William C (c1888- ), Gladys M (c1890- )
Spouse
Education
Kelvinside Academy
Fettes School, Glencorse House from 1900
Occupation
Chartered accountant with M’Clelland, Ker & Co
1911 Census
6 Princes Gardens, Partick
Home Address
Glasgow Necropolis
1891 Census
1901 Census
Other Memorials
Scottish National War Memorial (Robert Wilson Cassells)
Acknowledgements and Sources
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 (www.ancestry.co.uk), Findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission – www.cwgc.org
Family Search – www.familysearch.org
The Long, Long Trail – http://www.1914-1918.net/
Scotlands People – www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
The Scottish War Memorials Project – www.warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com
The Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion), Record of War Service, 1914-1918. 1920.
Credits
Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.
Robert Wilson Cassells Monument - Epsilon