My Scottish Family History by Flora
Chisnall (New Zealand)
For the last five years I have been compiling my Scottish
family history - in particular the family of Robert MacDonald and Mary Harris
who married at Bleachfield of Blebo in the Parish of Kemback, Fife, in December
of 1881. They had a large family, ten sons and three daughters. One son lived
just two days.
Alexander was their sixth son and he was born at Falkland
Wood on November 14 1890. I do not know anything of his childhood. On 4 January
1909 at the age of 18 years, he enlisted at Dundee with the Black Watch. Alexander
was a piper with the 2nd Battalion.
In September of 1915 the Battalion was present in France
to fight at the Battle of Loos. He was awarded the DCM and the Wauchope medal
for gallantry at Loos. He was injured in the Battle and as a result he lost
a leg. He returned to Fife and was discharged from the Army.
The DCM citation for his gallantry reads:
For conspicuous gallantry. He played his pipes through the first and
second enemy trenches, and when the bombers advanced to the third trench,
he continued playing at their head, his companion piper being killed at point
blank range. (BW DCM Citations 1914-20).
The companion piper was David Simpson and a poem written
in honour of David was later published. It was called " The Piper of Loos".
A poem was also written for Alexander, it was called " Another
Fife Hero".
In March of 1917 Alexander married Annie Simpson. The civil
marriage took place at Edinburgh. Annie, a dressmaker was aged 28 and Alexander
aged 26. Less than three weeks later, Alexander was admitted to Adamson Hospital,
Cupar and sadly he died following surgery for appendicitis on April 16 1917.
He was given a military funeral with the Black Watch pipers
and firing party in attendance.
The procession moved from the gates of Adamson Hospital and along
streets in Cupar.
He was buried in Cupar New Cemetery, plot H grave 442. A memorial
was erected to him by the Commonwealth War graves Commission. A very sad ending
to such a young life.
When I received the details of Alexander's place of burial
I was surprised to find that the address given for his wife Annie was a New
Zealand one. In fact it was the address of Alexander's oldest brother Robert.
I do not know if Annie remained in New Zealand or if she returned to Fife,
or wether she remarried. I have often wondered what happened to the DCM and
the Wauchope medals and who has possession of them now.
Of the children of Robert and Mary Macdonald, eight of them came
to New Zealand to live and only one, David remained in Scotland. Three sons
were killed in action in WW1 and the youngest Neil, was accidentally drowned
while serving in Syria with the Australian Army, in 1941. Five sons had served
with The Black Watch.
I also have a photo with Andrew
MacDonald in it Alexanders brother, but unfortunately I cannot identify
him, can anyone help ?
For further details , or if you have any connection with this family please
contact
