William Duff
| Rank | Lieutenant | |
| Regiment | Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), 7th Battalion ‘D’ Company | |
| Military Service | C1908 William Duff joined the HLI. 1911 Duff transferred to 7th Battalion Cameronians and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 3 December. 1912 Promoted to Lieutenant on 25 December. 1915 The battalion, part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division, sailed from Liverpool on 24 May for Gallipoli, arriving on 14 June. On 28 June two platoons of D Company made up the right flank of an assault at Gully Ravine in which William Duff was killed and in which the 7th and 8th Cameronians suffered very heavy losses. See also Captain William Church, Lieut Alexander Elliot, Captain Cecil Macindoe, Captain Charles Mowat, 2nd Lieut William Robertson for others lost that day. | |
| Born | 23 August 1891, Busby | |
| Death | 28th June 1915 | |
| Circumstances of Death | Killed in action. Originally Duff was reported as missing and it was not until March 1916 that his death was officially confirmed. | |
| Age | 23 | |
| Burial | Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Special Memorial B. 90. William Duff is believed to be buried in this cemetery, one of 47 officers and men of the 1st/7th Cameronians, killed on 28 June and known or believed to be buried here and commemorated by Special Memorials. | |
| CWGC Information | Son of William Duff and Ann Mitchell, his wife, of Ramleh, Busby, Lanarkshire. | |
| Parents | William Duff (c1850-) and Ann Mitchell (c1858-) | |
| Father's Occupation | Wholesale Jeweller: Davis, Duff & Son, Ltd, watch manufacturers, wholesale jewellers, silversmiths and diamond merchants, 12 Gordon Street, Glasgow. [Post Office Directory 1920-1] | |
| Siblings | John (1886-1919), Catherine (c1890-) | |
| Spouse | unmarried | |
| Education | Not known | |
| Occupation | In the insurance business. | |
| 1901 Census | Greenholm, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire | |
| Glasgow Necropolis | Compartment Eta Lair 201 | |
| Other Memorials | Scottish National War Memorial Busby Parish Church War Memorial Busby West United Free Church Roll of Honour East Kilbride War Memorial | |
| Other Information | Brother of Lieut John M Duff who died 24 August 1919. The Duff family, prominent members of the Busby community, presented the village with the Duff Memorial Institute, comprising baths, a library, a reading room and a social room in memory of their two sons which was opened in 1921 and is still in use.  Duff Memorial Institute – The Scottish War memorials Project http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic5238.html&highlight=john+mitchell+duff
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| 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 East Renfrewshire’s Heritage Collection – www.portaltothepast.co.uk 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 | |
Gallery
William and John Mitchell Duff Monument
Credits
Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.
