William BICKERSTAFF

Corporal 42354

Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)

He formerly served as

Corporal 3046

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Cap Badge of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)

Cap Badge of the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

Remembrance Card for Corporal BICKERSTAFF was kindly provided by Mr. Stanyer Burns of Larkhall.

A Panel on Dalserf War Memorial, Ashgillhead, Ashgill, Lanarkshire, with the names:

W. BICKERSTAFF, Cpl, M.G.C. [Machine Gun Corps]; and

J. CLELLAND, Pte. S.R. [Scottish Rifles]

J. PARK, Pte H.L.I. [Highland Light Infantry].

Newspaper clipping from The Glasgow Hearld, dated 10 November, 1919.

[Note: The Birth, Death, Marriage and Census records show the surname BICKERSTAFF has been spelled BIGGERSTAFF by different Registrars and Census Enumerators. This has made it difficult to trace family members. WILLIAM's military records have the surname spelled BICKERSTAFF, although his birth record shows BIGGERSTAFF. I have used the spelling shown on the individual records I found, but in 'army-speak' he is forever known as BICKERSTAFF.]

WILLIAM BICKERSTAFF, Corporal 42354 Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), is NOT named on the Larkhall War Memorial.

WILLIAM is named on the Dalserf War Memorial at Ashgillhead.

[Note that JAMES CLELLAND is also listed on the same Panel.]

WILLIAM is a cousin of JAMES PARK [also listed on the same Panel].

His mother JANE (MARTHA) HAMILTON, b 9 Mar 1866 at New Machan, Larkhall, is a sister of JAMES PARK's mother ELLEN McDADE HAMILTON, b 29 Jul 1869 at Dykehead Colliery, Ferniegair, Hamilton.

He formerly served as Corporal 3046, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).

WILLIAM WILSON HAMILTON BIGGERSTAFF was born at 12 Cawtonhill Street, Pollockshaws, Eastwood, Renfrew, on 9 February, 1895. 

His parents were James Biggerstaff, a Coal Miner, and Martha Hamilton who were married at Turnberry, Nitshill, Renfrewshire on 15th August, 1884.
His paternal grandparents were David Bickerstaff, a Quarry Labourer, and Isabella Chalmers.
His maternal grandparents were William Hamilton, a Coal Pit Foreman, and Mary McDade.

The 1891 QUARTER, Parish of Hamilton, Census was taken on 5 April, 1891.
The family are listed at 5 Furnace Rows, Quarter, as follows:
James Biggarstaff, age 33, Head, Coal Miner, b Nitshill
Martha Biggarstaff, age 27, Wife, b Dalserf
Agnes Prestwell, age 7, Niece, Scholar, b East Kilbride.

On 7 January, 1896, his father James Biggerstaff, age 36, died at Birkenshaw, Larkhall.

On 6 October, 1899, his mother, now age 36, re-married to Adam Park, age 40, a Coal Miner, of Shawsburn.

The 1901 SHAWSBURN Census was taken on 31 March, 1901.
The family are listed at Parker Place, Shawsburn, as follows:
Adam Park, age 42, Head, Coal Miner, b Wishaw
Martha Park, age 34, Wife, b Dalserf
Agnes Bickerstaff, age 16, Daughter, b East Kilbride
David Bickerstaff, age 9, Son, Scholar, b Quarter
WILLIAM BICKERSTAFF, age 6, Son, Scholar, b Pollockshaws, Renfrew.
William Park, age 35, Brother, Brickwork Labourer, b Wishaw.

The 1911 LARKHALL Census was taken on 2 April, 1911.
The family are listed at Fontein Cottage, Birkenshaw, Larkhall, as follows:
Adam Park, age 51, Head, Coal Miner, b Cambusnethan
Martha Park, age 47, Wife, b Dalserf
David Bickerstaff, age 19, Step-Son, Coal Miner, b Quarter
WILLIAM W. H. BICKERSTAFF, age 16, Step-Son, Brickmaker, b Eastwood, Renfrew.

[NOTE: this address is important to note that JAMES CLELLAND, Private 42395, 9th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), and his family lived at Fontein Cottage. This can be seen in the 1921 Census records (see attached).

JAMES is also named on the Dalserf War Memorial.]

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for WILLIAM shows that he was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. The card does not show the date he went to France, so this indicates that he went after 1915.

The attached newspaper clipping dated 25 May, 1918, states:
"He enlisted in January, 1915, and went to France last July".
The Military Service Act, January, 1916, brought in Conscription. So it is possible that he was conscripted like many, many, many others.

His Service Record has not survived so we do not know when he was appointed Corporal, but his MIC does show him as Corporal 42354, M.G.C.

WILLIAM was Killed-In-Action on 13 April, 1918, age 23.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) entry for WILLIAM shows that he is commemorated at PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL, Hainaut, Belgium.

When no individual gravestone is shown, this indicates that his body was never recovered in the mud and the mess of WW1. Sometimes bodies of the fallen could not be recovered from  No Man s Land  due to the incessant artillery bombardments. Sometimes graves that were dug, were later destroyed in artillery barrages as the front line swayed back and forth.
There are 11,366 names commemorated there.

The Scottish National War Memorial (SNWM) at Edinburgh Castle shows that WILLIAM is commemorated there serving with both the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry).

The entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW) shows that WILLIAM enlisted in Hamilton (probably the Hamilton Barracks in Almada Street).

The "Soldier's Effects" record shows that his Outstanding Pay of £17/5/11 was distributed as follows:
His mother Martha H. Park received £5/15/4
His brother David received £11/10/7
A War Gratuity of £16/-/- was distributed as follows:
His mother Martha H. Park received £10/17/8
His brother David received £5/2/4.

Walter Smith sent me 2 clippings taken from The Hamilton Advertiser.
The 1st is dated 25 May, 1918.
It reads:
"LARKHALL and the WAR -
<snip>
Mr and Mrs Park, Fontein, Birkenshaw, have been officially notified that their son, Corporal Wm. Bickerstaff, M.G.C., was killed in action in France on the 13th April. He enlisted in January, 1915, and went to France last July. Corporal Bickerstaff was 23 years of age, and employed at Bentrigg Colliery, Netherburn, before enlisting.
<snip>".

The 2nd is 18 May, 1918, and reads:
"BICKERSTAFF - Killed in action in France, on the 13th April, 1918, Corpl. William Bickerstaff, M.G.C., aged 23 years, beloved son of Adam and Martha Park, Fontein, Birkenshaw, Larkhall.

'We loved him - he was our's,
We kissed and bade goodbye,
Tears flowed but freedom called
To do or die'.

'Our home has lost its light,
Our castles in the air are laid in dust,
And for ever there now must lie'.

'We miss him, yes, we miss him,
With his cheery word and smile,
And we're counting up the moments
That compose life's little while'.

'Until this vale of parting has forever passed away,
And we shall gather with him in God's eternal day'.".

The 1921 BIRKENSHAW, Larkhall Census (attached), was taken on 19 June, 1921.
WILLIAM BICKERSTAFF's parents, and JAMES CLELLAND's parents and siblings are both listed at Fontein Cottage, Birkenshaw, Larkhall, as follows:

Adam CLELLAND, Head, age 46, b Carluke, a Grocer.
Mary CLELLAND, Wife, age 54, b Dornoch, Sutherland.
Donald CLELLAND, Son, age 19, b Lesmahagow, a Clerk.
Adam CLELLAND, Son, age 17, b Cambusnethan, a Coal Miner Brusher.
Mary CLELLAND, Dau, age 13, b Larkhall, a Scholar

Adam PARK, Head, age 62, b Wishaw, a Coal Miner.
Martha PARK, Wife, age 58, b Dalserf.

This shows that the parents of JAMES CLELLAND and WILLIAM BICKERSTAFF were close neighbours, and this may be the reason for their choice to list their sons' names on the Dalserf War Memorial, rather than the Larkhall War Memorial.

On 3 Mar 1933 his mother Martha, age 69, died at Fontein Cottage, Birkenshaw, Larkhall.

On 17 May 1946 his step-father Adam Park, age 87, died at Fontein Cottage, Birkenshaw, Larkhall.

Lest We Forget!

The Hamilton Advrtiser, dated 18th May, 1918.

The Hamilton Advertiser, dated 25h May, 1918.

[Note: JAMES CLELLAND is mentioned here, and both addresses are 'Fontein Cottage'.]

1921 Census (snippet) for Birkenshaw, Larkhall.

This shows the PARK and CLELLAND families living at Fontein Cottage.

The Scotsman, page 3, dated 14 June, 1918.

Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) showing the award of The Victory Medal and The British War Medal.

Soldier's Effects Record for William Bickerstaff.

CWGC Commemorative Certificate - old version

CWGC Commemorative Certificate - new version

Panel 11 at PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL, Hainaut, Belgium.

He is shown on the left column, under 'CORPORAL' and is 3rd below.