Cavers, Joss

Sergeant Joss Murray Cavers

Gordon Highlanders

1918 - November 30.

THERE died in Stobhill Military Hospital, Glasgow, on Saturday, 30th November 1918 (St Andrew’s Day), aged 24 years, Sergeant Joss MURRAY CAVERS, of the 10th Gordon Highlanders.  He was a native of Peebles, where he was born in February 1894, and was the second son of the late Adam Cavers, baker, and of Mrs Margaret Cavers, 14 Campbell Street, Glasgow.

Sergeant Cavers enlisted in the Regular Army in 1909, and re-enlisted on the 7th September 1914.  He was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Loos on the 15th September 1915.  For fully two years Sergeant Cavers was an exile in Germany before being transferred to Holland, in April 1918.  While in captivity he devoted his time to self-education, and as a result was able to converse fluently in four languages.  He was repatriated on the 18th November 1918, but the state of his health was such that he only survived till the 30th November, dying, as already stated, in Stobhill Military Hospital, Glasgow. 

On Saturday, 4th December, Sergeant Cavers’ body was interred in Peebles Cemetery with full military honours, the funeral being from the house of his uncle, William Hart, Northgate.  The members of the Peeblesshire Volunteers provided the firing party and pall bearers.  A large number of Peebles soldiers at home on leave, and also returned prisoners of war, attended the funeral.  The Rev. J. W. Murray, B.A. (Oxon.), Manor, in the uniform of Second Lieutenant of the Peeblesshire Volunteers, conducted the service in the house and at the graveside.

Yet you do serve, who only stand and wait

And bear you bravely, nor in aught abate

Of your high courage, but, with heads erect,

E’en from your gaolers still command respect.

You served the State by bearing you as those

Whom, undeserving, nought can discompose,

You, too, your country’s flag held bravely high,

By your high bearing in captivity.

Not Death himself can part us from our loved;

Time, space, and death are of the earth;

The souls of all who dwell in Thee

Are Thy new birth.

Source: The Book of Remembrance for Tweeddale – Peebles Book 2 - Pages 304 and 305

Name: CAVERS, Joss Murray

Initials: J. M.

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Serjeant

Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders

Age: 24

Date of Death: 30/11/1918

Service No: S/4365

Additional information: Son of Mrs. Margaret Hart Cavers. A Prisoner of War.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 2804.

Cemetery: PEEBLES CEMETERY