Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders WW1

[orkrad]

 Does anyone recognise  any of the people in this  very dilapidated photo? I think it dates from ww1 and  I think the one marked with the X was my grandfather James McLeish (1875-1929) who was born and died in Greenock.

I understand that the 5th battalion was a Territorial Regiment attached to the Black Watch Brigade for Scottish coastal defences. They met in the Drill Hall Finnart Street Greenock.


I will work on restoring the photo later but would be interested if anyone has

any details about the soldiers in the picture

Regards Orkrad

[kathleenmitchell]

Hi Okrad

My grandfather James Mitchell was in this Regiment based at the drill hall.  I will get my auntie to look at it and see if he is on it.

regards
Kathy

[orkrad]

 Thanks Kathleen. I am hoping that someone else has this photo with a few names on the back. Here's hoping that  I have found  a photo of my grandad at long last.

I am also wondering if the Greenock Telegraph might have something about this regiment in their archives.

Orkrad.

[kathleenmitchell]

Hello
The telegraph may well have, but the best bet would be the Watt Library in Greenock.  I am still trying to find out what my Granda's army number was!!!
Kathy

[werdan]

Hi

My great grandfather John Keane was also in this regiment. He was born in 1880 in Co Mayo Ireland and died in 1962 in Kilbarchan Renfrewshire, not sure where he was based.

Werdan

[orkrad]

Kathleen

If you can find your granda's war medals it should have his regimental number and you can take it from there. My grandfather's medals were probably not kept as he had no particular love of things military! So that's not an avenue open to me.

Orkrad.

[orkrad]

Hi Werdan


Here is some info  I received from Argyll and Sutherland headquarters. It refers to my grandad but since he and John Keane were in the same unit it might shed some light on his service.

"Since James Mc Phail  is pictured in the 3rd / 5th Battalion then he did serve during WW1. This particular battalion was raised in 1915 and acted as a training battalion which trained men for the front as well as undertaking home defence duties. It never went to the front as a battalion in its own right. It was stationed in Greenock, Bridge of Earn in Perthsire, Ripon in England and Galashiels in the borders during the war and disbanded at the end of the war. Prior to WW1 the 5th battalion was a territorial unit made up of men who trained during the odd week night and occasionally on whatever day they were off at the weekend as well as a two week annual camp where they took part in large scale exercises. In WW1 this battalion became known as the 1st/5th and fought abroad. A 2nd/5th and 3rd/5th were raised to train men for the 1st/5th but also for some of the other Argylls battalions fighting outside of the UK. As a cook it may be the case that he spent all his time in britain (which would have been very lucky for him) but the only way to find out would be to try and obtain his service papers."


 Hope it's useful. Also if you are lucky enough to have his war medals you could find out about him from the archives at Kew.

Regards   Orkrad

[elaine447]

Have you tried sending a copy of the picture to the
Greenock Telegraph and ask them to put a copy in the paper
maybe with a bit of luck someone living local may
recognise some of the men, possible that someone may recognise a grandfather or an uncle
anything is worth a try
Elaine

[orkrad]

Thanks Elaine


I'm going to spend some time making the photo a bit more presentable and then  I will consider contacting the Telegraph. Thanks for the suggestion.

Regards  Orkrad.