IWM Collections

BARCLAY, William Kirk, Lieut. Disembarked Boulogne, France, 2 May 1915. Died of wounds, 20 June 1915, aged 37. Beath Western Cemetery, Fife, 896. Husband of Helen Barclay, 54 Blake Street, Brucefield, Dunfermline. COWDENBEATH LIEUTENANT WOUNDED. Lieutenant Wm. K. Barclay, 1/7th Black Watch (T.F.), eldest son of ex-Provost Barclay, Cowdenbeath, lies, dangerously wounded, in a Boulogne hospital. He has seen over 22 years’ service as a Volunteer and Territorial, having joined the Lochgelly Company in 1893. He did much to have a company established at Cowdenbeath, and when it was formed in 1906 he obtained his commission. The Scotsman, Monday, 21 June 1915, 9. CASUALTIES AMONG FIFESHIRE TERRITORIALS. Lieutenant Barclay, Cowdenbeath, severely wounded with shrapnel, from the effects of which he has since died. At a special meeting of Cowdenbeath Town Council last night, it was agreed to place on record the Council’s deep regret at the loss sustained by the death of Lieutenant W. K. Barclay, a member of the Council, who has died of wounds at Boulogne, and to express appreciation of the services rendered by him to his country and the community. The Scotsman, Tuesday, 22 June 1915, 6. DEATHS. BARCLAY. – Died at Boulogne on June 20th, of wounds received in action on16th, First Lieut. W. K. BARCLAY, 1/7th Black Watch, aged 37, beloved husband of Helen Troup, and eldest son of Mr and Mrs Charles Barclay, Cowdenbeath. Funeral (public) from Drill Hall, Cowdenbeath, Saturday, June 26th, at 3.45 P.M. Public service at 3.15. Only intimation and invitation. The Scotsman, Friday, 25 June 1915, 12. FUNERAL OF A FIFE OFFICER The funeral of Lieutenant W. K. Barclay, 1/7th Black Watch, who died in No. 7 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, on June 20th from wounds received in action a few days earlier, took place at Cowdenbeath on Saturday afternoon. After a service had been held in the Drill Hall, the body was taken on a gun carriage supplied by the R.F.A. to Beath Cemetery, followed by a large number of mourners. A detachment of 40 soldiers from the regiment formed the firing party, and as the coffin was being lowered in the grave pipers played “Lochaber No More,” and “The Last Post” was sounded. Lieutenant Barclay was a member of Beath Parish Council and of Cowdenbeath Town Council. The Scotsman, Monday, 28 June, 1915, 8. BIRTHS. BARCLAY. – At 257 High Street, Cowdenbeath, on the 14th inst., the wife of the late Lieut. W. K. BARCLAY, 1/7th Black Watch (died of wounds at Boulogne 20th June), of a son. The Scotsman, Thursday, 16 September 1915, 11.

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In a History of Cowdenbeath, available here: electricscotland.com/council/pdf/Cowdenbeath-History_text... the following is said under a (badly reproduced) photograph of William Kirby Barclay: “Lieut. W. K. Barclay, founder of Cowdenbeath Rifle Club and original officer of Cowdenbeath Territorials, a victim of last war. “ Here are two photographs of the Cowdenbeath Rifle Club, which my great grandfather was a member of, taken around 1910. I believe that William Kirk Barclay may be in both photos, but I’m not sure about the exact person — there are at least two contenders in each photo. The photos are here: www.flickr.com/photos/fernie__and_related/51306552244/in/... www.flickr.com/photos/fernie__and_related/51305088827/in/...

30183 Clive Townsend Thompson was from Sydney in New South Wales. He was born in the parish of Stratfield and his next of kin on enlistment was recorded as his mother, Mary Thompson. He was a student aged 19 yrs and 3 mths when he enlisted on 5th September 1916, and was living at the family home at 17 Collingwood St, Drummoyne, Sydney. He had already completed 3 months compulsory military service with 31st Infantry Battalion and he signed for a voluntary 3 year engagement with 22/1st Field Artillery Brigade. He was killed aged 20 in the opening days of the Australian 9th Brigade involvement in the disastrously over-ambitious and inadequately planned Battle of Passchedaele (9th Brigade AIF attacked on 12th October). The Ypres battlefield had been churned into slurry by heavy shelling over the preceding 3 years and torrential rain during the month of August 1917. Passchendaele has rightly become synonymous with the squandering of mens lives in some of the most ill conceived attacks of the entire war. Photographs of the battle convey an idea of the horror of fighting there; it is almost unimaginable to understand what it must have been like on that battlefield at night. A fit, young, intelligent soldier, Clive Thompson could well have been a signaller, runner or rifleman with an artillery observation party, well forward in the front line, directing the preparatory shellfire on the German lines. This would also have placed him amongst the most exposed and vulnerable troops in areas where the ground offered indifferent protection from observation and enemy fire and was full of lethal traps even for the most experienced soldiers.//

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Thank you very much for this short bio.

These could be him: London Gazette Supplement 25 May 1917 has this for Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry - Osborne, Temp. Maj. (actg. Lt.-Col.) J. E. UK Incoming Passengers List has this: Name: Captain J E Osborne Birth Date: abt 1878 Age: 30 Port of Departure:Quebec, Canada Arrival Date:28 Aug 1908 Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England Ports of Voyage: Quebec Ship Name:Empress of Ireland Shipping Line: Canadian Pacific Steamship Line Official Number: 123972 Also Mrs Osborne - wife - 26 British Phone Books has: Name:Major J E Osborne Address:44 Connaught St W.2. Exchange:PADdngtn City/Town:Paddington Directory Title:London Surnames A - Z Sep Publication Year:1928 Directory County:London

John Edwards Osborne appears to have originally been awarded his Commission after passing the Competitive Examination of March 1906 while a Militia & Yeomanry Candidate in the 6th Battalion (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Middlesex Regiment [LG 27915 of 22 May 1906]. He was Commisioned into the Ox & Bucks LI. So it was that Temp Lt Osborne Ox & Bucks LI was promoted to Temp Capt on 22 Oct 1914 in the 6th Battalion Ox & Bucks Light Infantry. Temporary Major J E Osborne was promoted to Acting Lieutenant Colonel on 9 Nov 1916 while Commanding Officer of a battalion (presumably 6th Ox & Bucks LI) [LG 29936 of 9 Feb 1917] and reverted to Temp Major on 25 Apr 1917 on relinquishing that command [LG 30170 dated 6 Jul 1917]. On 18 Sep 1917 the London Gazette shows Temp Major J E Osborne attached (possibly to the Staff) from a Service Battalion as a Major with seniority from 19 Nov 1915. He was awarded a Mention in Despatches as a Temporary Major on 25 May 1917, [Awards Vol 30093 page 5158]. He survived the war and as a Temporary Major he relinquished his Commission on 18 Oct 1919, retaining the rank of Major.//

Major John Edwards Osborne, possibly originally from Somerset, later of The Old Manse, Rescobie, Forfar, Angus, Scotland? Had one son, Major Gerald Michael Osborne MC TD - he of Balmadies, Guthrie, Angus, Forfar, Scotland, (married June Mary Carnegie-Arbuthnott, b. 24 Jul 20, m. 2 Apr 41).

Died 24 Sep 1938 at Wald Sanitorium, Davos Platz, Switzerland. Now known as Wald Hotel. www.myswitzerland.com/en/waldhotel-davos.html Of 10 West Cliff Gardens, Folkestone. Widow Agnes Telford Osborne. She died 18 Sep 1956 in Hove. Probate granted to Annie McQuiston Fleming, a widow. Estate valued at £11927. 12s 10d.

He came from Bristol and was part of the family of the solicitor's firm Osborne Clarke. The Mrs Osborne who survived him was his second wife, whom he married after WWI. (Family information).