William LAIRD, D.C.M.,

Private 1943

'D' (Larkhall) Company

6th Battalion

The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Cap Badge of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

This photo appeared in The Daily Record on 31st march, 1916.

The burial took place the previous day.

The gravestone of Pte William Laird, DCM, in Larkhall Cemetery.

WILLIAM LAIRD, D.C.M., Pte 1943, 'D' (Larkhall) Coy., 6th Bn Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), is named on the Larkhall War Memorial.

WILLIAM LAIRD, D.C.M., was born at 15 Barrack Street, Hamilton, on 10th December, 1892.

His parents were Francis Laird, a Coal Miner, and Christina Pillans, who were married at Larkhall on 31st December, 1890. At the time of their marriage, his father lived at 45 Baillies Causeway, Hamilton, and his mother lived at 59 Meadowhill, Larkhall.
His paternal grandparents were William Laird, a Coal Miner, and Elizabeth Mackie.
His maternal grandparents were John Pillans, a Coal Miner, and Jane Sommerville or Pillans or Lang.

The 1901 LARKHALL Census was taken on 31st March, 1901.
The family are listed at 7 Waste Court, Raploch Street, Larkhall, as follows:
Francis Laird, age 39, Head, Coal Miner, b Kilmarnock.
Christina Laird, age 42, Wife, b Forth.
Jeanie Laird, age 9, Daughter, Scholar, b Hamilton.
WILLIAM LAIRD, age 8, Son, Scholar, b Hamilton.
John Laird, age 6, Son, Scholar, b Larkhall.
Francis Laird, age 2, Son, b Larkhall.

The 1911 LARKHALL Census was taken on 2nd April, 1911.
The family are listed at 84 Raploch Street, Larkhall, as follows:
Francis Laird, age 46, Head, Coal Miner, b Riccarton, Ayrshire.
Christina Laird, age 52, Wife, b Forth.
Jeanie Laird, age 19, Daughter, b Hamilton.
WILLIAM LAIRD, age 18, Son, Coal Miner, b Hamilton.
John Laird, age 16, Son, Coal Miner, b Larkhall.
Francis Laird, age 12, Son, Scholar, b Larkhall.
Robert Laird, age 8, Son, Scholar, b Larkhall.

WILLIAM LAIRD, D.C.M. joined the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) as Pte 1943.

He went to France on 20th March, 1915.

In the Hamilton Advertiser, dated 15th January, 1916, the following article was published:
"LARKHALL TERRITORIAL AWARDED THE D.C.M. - In the list of awards published yesterday the name of Private Wm. Laird, 1/6th Scottish Rifles, appears. He has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for meritorious conduct at Festubert, 15th-16th June last, when the Territorial Battalion of the Scottish Rifles made a glorious stand. Previous to the charge, it appears Private Laird went out alone and cut the barbed wire entanglements in the evening, which took twenty minutes to do. He was in the direct line of fire of the enemy all the time, and came back to the trenches unhurt. Private Laird joined the local company in the spring of 1914, and the camp had just struck in July when the Battalion was again mobilised for service. He is 23 years of age, was employed in Raploch Colliery, and resided with his parents at 84 Raploch Street. This is the second D.C.M. to be won by Larkhall men, the former being Lance-Corporal McLuckie, H.L.I. It is also worthy of note that both men were employed in Raploch Colliery previous to enlisting".

In the Hamilton Advertiser, dated 22nd January, 1916, the following letter was published:
"THE D.C.M. TO PRIVATE LAIRD.
Sir, - I think it right, in justice to Private Laird, to supplement, and to a certain extent rectify, the report appearing in your issue of last Saturday in connection with this matter. Private Laird was, and is, a member of "D" Company, which I had the honour and privilege of commanding at the battle of Festubert. The exploit for which Private Laird so deservedly gained the D.C.M. did not take place at night, before the battle, as stated by your correspondent in last Saturday's "Advertiser" - a comparatively tame setting compared with the actual facts. The incident occurred when the battle was raging in the full storm and fury of the fray, when shells were bursting, shrapnel showering, bullets spitting, and machine guns ripping. Private Laird was of the bombing party which had got through two German trenches and were making for the third. They were halted in a shell hole immediately in front of this third trench, and between the lip of the hole and the trench the ground was blocked by a wide belt of barbed-wire entanglement, which was still intact, and through this there was, in consequence, no passage. The problen was: Who was to venture into the open, midst the spray of bullets and shrapnel, to cut a way through the wire? Private Laird was the hero who did it. Getting a pair of wire cutters from one of the party (so many men of each party carried wire cutters), he leapt from the shell hole, and coolly, deliberately, and effectively snipped the wire, strand by strand, until a passage was made. It took over twenty minutes to perform the work, and this in full view of the enemy. When he had finished, he directed the rest of the party through the passage he had made. - Yours, etc.,
W. S. McKENZIE, Major.
20/1/16 [20th January, 1916]".

Private LAIRD went home on leave at the end of January, 1916. The local Recruiting Committee took steps to recognise his heroic service, and to make a presentation to him on 28th January, 1916.
A few days before the planned presentation, Private LAIRD became unwell and was removed to Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, suffering from a suppurative appendicitis.

In the London Gazette No 29503 of 11th March, 1916, WILLIAM LAIRD is listed as being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.). His Citation reads "For conspicuous gallantry. During an attack on enemy trenches the Companies found themselves held up by barbed wire. Private Laird rushed forward alone, in a very exposed position, and under very heavy fire, and by cutting the wire in two places enabled the Companies to get through and occupy the enemy trench".

WILLIAM LAIRD, D.C.M. died while home on leave on 25th March, 1916, age 23, and whilst a patient at Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow. The cause of death is recorded on his death record as "Supperative Appendicitis; General Peritonitis; Subphrenic Abscess".

In the Daily Record, dated 28th March, 1916, the following article was published:
"DEATH OF A LARKHALL HERO.
Pte Wm. Laird, 6th Cameronians, who was awarded the D.C.M. for conspicuous bravery at Festubert on 15-16th June, 1915, has died in Stobhill Hospital after two months' ilness.
Pte Laird was home on leave at the end of January, and the local Recruiting Committee had made arrangements to make a presentation to him. Unfortunately a few days before the date arranged for the presentation he took ill and was removed to Stobhill, where he died on Saturday evening. Pte Laird had been a member of the Larkhall Territorials for some years. His loss is greatly deplored".

In the Hamilton Advertiser, dated 1st April, 1916, the following article was published:
"DEATH OF A LARKHALL HERO - Private Wm. Laird, 6th Scottish Rifles, who won the D.C.M. at Festubert on June 15-16, 1915, for meritorious conduct, died in Stobhill Hospital on Saturday evening, after two months' illness. Private Laird got home on leave at the end of January, and the local Recruiting Committee took steps to recognise their townsman's heroic services, and made arrangements for a meeting to be held on the 28th January, at which a presentation was to be made. Unfortunately, a few days previous to the presentation Private Laird took ill and was removed to Stobhill Hospital, and died as stated on Saturday evening at 11 o'clock. He was a member of the Larkhall Territorials for some years, and his loss is deeply deplored by officers and men, while the sympathy of the townspeople is extended to the sorrowing parents and family. The funeral, which was a military one, took place to Larkhall Cemetery on Wednesday. The coffin was wrapped in the Union Jack and the cortege was headed by the Pipe Band from Headquarters, while the escort and firing party were also sent from Hamilton. There was a large attendance of the general public, and the main thoroughfares were lined by sympathetic sightseers".

A headstone, erected by the inhabitants of Larkhall, contains an inset stone donated by the patients and nurses of Ward 7A in Stobhill Hospital.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) entry for WILLIAM LAIRD, D.C.M. shows that he is buried at LARKHALL CEMETERY. There are 10 identified WW1 casualties buried at LARKHALL CEMETERY.

WILLIAM LAIRD, D.C.M. is commemorated at The Scottish National War Memorial (SNWM) in Edinburgh Castle.
 

There is no entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW) for WILLIAM LAIRD, D.C.M.
It seems that since his death was not attributed to the war, he is not included.

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for WILLIAM LAIRD, D.C.M. shows that he was awarded The 1914-15 Star Medal, The Victory Medal and The British War Medal.

The "Soldier's Effects" record shows that his Outstanding Pay of £22/17/11 was distributed as follows:
His father Francis:              £11/8/11.
His brother Francis:           £ 2/17/3.
His brother Robert:            £ 2/17/3.
His sister Jeanie Holland: £ 2/17/3.
His mother Christina:        £ 2/17/3 at his brother John's request.
A War Gratuity of £7/-/- was paid to his father Francis.

Lest We Forget!

The Hamilton Advertiser, dated 15th January, 1916.

The Hamilton Advertiser, dated 22nd January, 1916.

London Gazette No 29503 of 11th March, 1916.

London Gazette No 29503 of 11th March, 1916.

The Daily Record, dated 28th March, 1916.

The Hamilton Advertiser, dated 1st April, 1916.

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for WILLIAM LAIRD, D.C.M. shows that he went to France on 20th March, 1915, and was awarded The 1914-15 Star Medal, The Victory Medal and The British War Medal.

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for WILLIAM LAIRD, showing the award of The Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).

CWGC Commemoration Certificate