5th (Angus & Dundee) Battalion (Territorial Force), Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)

Private Alfred Anderson

Son of Andrew and Christina Anderson, of Belmont Street, Newtyle.

Alfred enlisted with "A" (Kirriemuir) Company, 5th (Angus & Dundee) Battalion, in 1912 and arrived in France with the Battalion on 2 November 1914. He was wounded by the explosion of a shell while in trenches in France, in 1916 and was invalided back to the United Kingdom.

Alfred remained in the Army and became an Instructor with the 4th (Reserve) Battalion, Black Watch, at Ripon, Yorkshire, and was later attached as Instructor to the Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons.

The last known Scottish veteran of the Great War, Alfred died in his sleep at Newtyle, Angus, Scotland, on 21 November 2005 - age 109.



Private Charles Begg

Son of James Begg, of March of Lunan, Angus.

Charles enlisted with 5th (Angus & Dundee) Battalion, in August 1914 and arrived in France on 9 January 1915. On 14 August 1915 he was shot in the head by a sniper while on lookout duties with the Battalion in front line trenches near Aubers, France, and died of his wounds in hospital at Calais, France, on 9 September 1915 - age 16.



Corporal Alexander Bisset (left) with elder brother Lance Corporal 1592 Harry Bisset (right)

Sons of Alexander and Mary Kennedy Bisset, of 45 West Grimsby, Arbroath. Harry was husband to Agnes Garden, of 31 Elliot Street, Arbroath.

Harry enlisted with "E" or "F" (Arbroath) Company, 5th (Angus & Dundee) Battalion in 1912 and arrived in France with the Battalion on 2 November 1914. He was officially listed as wounded and missing in action while with 4/5th (Angus & Dundee) Battalion during the capture of Schwaben Redoubt, Thiepval, Somme, France, on 14 October 1916 - age 29. His body was later found on the battlefield and buried close to where he fell.

Alexander also enlisted in August 1914 in the same company as his brother and later fought in France. On 6 September 1916 he was transfered to the 6th (Perthshire) Battalion (Territorial Force), Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), for the remainder of the war. Alexander was an active member of the Black Watch Territorials for the rest of his life and died in Arbroath on 26 March 1941 - age 44.



Private Albert Edwards (uniform) and his elder brother David Lindsay Edwards

Youngest son of Alexander and Maria Edwards of 30 High Street, Montrose, and younger brother of David Lindsay Edwards.

Albert enlisted with "C" (Montrose) Company, 5th (Angus & Dundee) Battalion in October 1913 and arrived in France with the Battalion on 2 November 1914. He was wounded in action by the explosion of a shell while with 4/5th (Angus & Dundee) Battalion during the capture of Schwaben Redoubt, Thiepval, Somme, France, on 14 October 1916.

Albert volunteered for transfer to the Machine Gun Corps, and later transferred again to the 23rd (Service) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. He was wounded and gassed during the Advance To Victory in early September 1918.

The last veteran of "C" (Montrose) Company, my grandfather Albert died in his sleep at Montrose, Angus, Scotland, in the early hours of 17 October 1990 - age 93.



Lance Corporal David Lindsay Edwards

Eldest son of Alexander and Maria Edwards, of 30 High Street, Montrose, and elder brother of Albert Edwards.

David enlisted with 3/5th (Angus & Dundee) Battalion in May 1915 and arrived in France on 3 October 1915. He was killed in action by the explosion of a shell while with "B" Company, 4/5th (Angus & Dundee) Battalion, in front line trenches at Fampoux Sector, near Arras, France, on 22 May 1918 - age 21.