Davidson, John

Lieutenant John Davidson.

Highland Light Infantry.

1915 - December 19.

At Richmond Camp, Yorks, on the 19th December 1915, Lieutenant and Quartermaster JOHN DAVIDSON, 13th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, late of the 1st Royal Scots, succumbed to an attack of pleurisy.

Lieutenant Davidson had, just a month before his death, received a presentation, to mark the forty-fourth anniversary of his entry into the Army, from the Colonel and officers of the 13th Highland Light Infantry. He had been practically all his life in the Army, having enlisted as a lad in the First Regiment of Foot - the 1st Royal Scots on the 18th November 1871. He served with his regiment in various stations at home and abroad, and rose through the various non-commissioned ranks to be Colour-Sergeant of his company. Holding that rank, he went through the Bechuanaland Expedition of 1884-5. His devotion to duty and his honest worth were justly recognised at all stages of his career by his superiors, and their testimony was ample enough to secure for him, on the termination of his service with the Colours, various important posts on the administrative side of the War Office. There he gained an intimate acquaintance with departmental work. He served as Quartermaster-Sergeant in the Royal Scots Reserve during the South African War, and he was also closely identified in Peebles with the Volunteer movement, having acted very acceptably as drill instructor for over four years.

When the war broke out he was in the employment of Lowe, Donald & Co. Placing himself and his experience at the service of his King and country, the offer was gladly accepted, and he was appointed to the 13th Highland Light Infantry as Quartermaster.  Lieutenant Davidson's worth and capabilities very soon manifested themselves to his Colonel and brother officers, by all of whom he was held in the highest esteem. Just a fortnight before his death

Lieutenant Davidson spent a pleasant furlough in Peebles, and left for Richmond Camp, in Yorkshire, apparently well and happy, and it was consequently with considerable grief that his wide circle of friends and acquaintances received the news of his death, he having succumbed, as above stated, to pleurisy, contracted shortly after arriving at camp. .

He was survived by his wife, his home address being St Elmo, Kirkland Street, Peebles.

His remains were brought to Peebles, and rested in St Peter's Episcopal Church, from which a military funeral conveyed his body to Peebles Cemetery. The coffin was enveloped in the folds of the Union Jack. The pipers played, as a slow march, "Scots Wha Hae," and the Silver Band the "Dead March" in "Saul." Representatives of his regiment followed the hearse, and also acted as pall bearers. Three volleys were fired over the grave, "Lochaber no

More" was wailed upon the pipes, and the "Last Post" was sounded.

Beside the fire at night, some far December,

We shall remember

And tell men unbegotten as yet the story

Of your sad glory,

Of your plain strength, your truth of heart, your splendid

Coolness - all ended.

Source: The Book of Remembrance for Tweeddale – Peebles Book 1 - Pages 128 to 130

Name: DAVIDSON, JOHN

Initials: J

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Lieutenant and then Quartermaster

Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry

Unit Text: 13th

Secondary Unit: 1 Royal Scots

Date of Death: 19/12/1915

Additional information: Husband of Ann Hatton Davidson, of "St. Elmo," Kirkland St., Peebles.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 1308.

Cemetery: PEEBLES CEMETERY