ROBERT 'ROY' REID, Private 56991, 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment

Stonehouse War Memorial

Paternal grandparents' gravestone in Larkhall Cemetery

The inscription on the gravestone reads:
"The burying place of Alexander Reid, his wife and family. Also the above Alexander Reid, Farmer in West Watstone, Stonehouse d. 18.6.1890 aged 70y. Also his wife Janet Reid d. 6.4.1896 aged 74y. Also their daughter Jane Rankin Reid d. 6.1.1897 aged 37y. Also their grandson Pte. Roy Reid, 1st Battalion, West Yorks, A Coy who d. of wounds in service 1.12.1917 aged 23y youngest son of William and Janet Reid".

ROBERT 'ROY' REID, Private 56991, 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, is NOT named on the Larkhall War Memorial.
He is named on the Stonehouse War Memorial.
He formerly served as Pte 22547, 6th Dragoon Guards.

ROBERT REID was born at Holm Farm, Stonehouse, on 18th January, 1894.
[Note: some records refer to him by his family nickname of 'Roy'.]

His parents were William Reid, a Farmer, and Janet Wright, who were married at Stonehouse on 13th February, 1885.
His paternal grandparents were Alexander Reid, a Farmer, and Jane Rankine.
His maternal grandparents were David Wright, a Carter, and Margaret Brown.

The 1901 STONEHOUSE Census was taken on 31st March, 1901.
The family are listed at Holm Road, Stonehouse, as follows:
William Reid, age 45, Head, Farmer, b Larkhall.
Janet Reid, age 45, Wife, b Muirkirk.
Maggie Reid, age 16, Daughter, Farm Worker, b Stonehouse.
Alexander Reid, age 14, Son, Farm Worker, b Stonehouse.
David Reid, age 10, Son, Scholar, b Stonehouse.
William Reid, age 9, Son, Scholar, b Stonehouse.
Janet Reid, age 8, Daughter, Scholar, b Stonehouse.
ROBERT REID, age 6, Son, Scholar, b Stonehouse.
June Reid, age 4, Daughter, b Stonehouse.

The 1911 STONEHOUSE Census was taken on 2nd April, 1911.
The family are listed at Holm Farm, Stonehouse, as follows:
William Reid, age 54, Head, Farmer, b Larkhall.
Janet Reid, age 55, Wife, b Muirkirk.
Maggie Reid, age 24, Daughter, Dairymaid, b Stonehouse.
Alexander Reid, age 23, Son, Milkman, b Stonehouse.
Jane Reid, age 18, Daughter, Farm Worker, b Stonehouse.
ROBERT REID, age 17, Son, Farm Worker, b Stonehouse.
Janet Reid, age 15, Daughter, Farm Worker, b Stonehouse.

ROBERT REID joined the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, as Private 56991, and went to France in August, 1917.

ROBERT REID Died of Wounds at Casualty Clearing Station No 21 on 1st December, 1917, age 24.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) entry for ROBERT REID shows that he is buried at ROCQUIGNY-EQUANCOURT ROAD BRITISH CEMETERY, MANANCOURT, Somme, France.
There are 2,016 identified casualties buried at ROCQUIGNY-EQUANCOURT ROAD BRITISH CEMETERY.

ROBERT REID is commemorated at The Scottish National War Memorial (SNWM) in Edinburgh Castle.

The entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW) shows that ROBERT REID was born at Stonehouse, Lanarkshire, and enlisted in Hamilton. This record shows that he formerly served as Pte 22547, 6th Dragoon Guards.

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for ROBERT REID shows that he was awarded The Victory Medal and The British War Medal.
The MIC is undated, which indicates that he went to France after 1915.

The "Soldier's Effects" record shows that his Outstanding Pay of £5/5/6 was distributed as follows:
To his sister Jean:  £2/12/9.
To his sister Molly: £2/12/9.
A War Gratuity of £3/-/- was paid to his sister Molly.
This document shows that he Died of Wounds at Casualty Clearing Station No 21, France.

His Soldier's Will shows the following:
"I hereby on the account of my Death leave all of my belongs to my two sisters Jeanie £25 Molly £25 and the remainder which they know about.
Alas that my Sisters should give my Ladyfriend Miss Annie Wilson a small gift remembrance Vicars Road Stonehouse".

Two newspaper clippings, taken from The Hamilton Advertiser, pages 1 and 5, dated 1st December, 1917, read:
Page 1:
"REID - Died of Wounds received in action, on 1st December, Private Roy Reid, West Yorks, in his 24th year, youngest son of Mr and Mrs Reid, Holm Farm, Stonehouse; deeply regretted.
'All the pain and grief are over,
Every restless tossing passed,
I am now at peace for ever,
Safely home in Heaven at last'".

Page 5:
"STONEHOUSE AND THE WAR - Mr Reid, Holm Farm, has been notified that his son, Pte Roy Reid, West Yorks, died of Wounds received in action on 1st December. Pte Reid was called up in April of this year, and had only been four weeks in France when he received the wounds that proved fatal. He was employed with his father, and was exceedingly popular in the village. Much sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Reid and family in their bereavement".

His paternal grandparents are buried in Larkhall Cemetery (hence the connection to Larkhall).
The inscription on the gravestone reads:
"The burying place of Alexander Reid, his wife and family. Also the above Alexander Reid, Farmer in West Watstone, Stonehouse d. 18.6.1890 aged 70y. Also his wife Janet Reid d. 6.4.1896 aged 74y. Also their daughter Jane Rankin Reid d. 6.1.1897 aged 37y. Also their grandson Pte. Roy Reid, 1st Battalion, West Yorks, A Coy who d. of wounds in service 1.12.1917 aged 23y youngest son of William and Janet Reid".

Lest We Forget!

Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC)

Medal Roll for the award of The Victory Medal and The British War Medal

Entry in Soldiers who Died in the Great War (SDGW)

Soldier's Effects record

Soldier's Will - page 1 of 4

Soldier's Will - page 3 of 4

Newspaper clipping from The Hamilton Advertiser, page 1, dated 1st December, 1917

Newspaper clipping from The Hamilton Advertiser, page 5, dated 1st December, 1917