TOPIC:

In Annan Cemetery, Dumfries & Galloway.





I had great difficulty transcribing the local paper's report of his life and death, and was unable to make out some words, left blank with a dash; the surname M'Galliog is a guess from what I could make out. M'Calliog would seem to be more likely, but it looked like a capital G. As for Piper L_____, it seemed to be a capital L, but I can't swear to it.



On Saturday the sad news reached Annan of the death at Pretoria on July 26th of Pte. A. Loudon (6968), Volunteer Company 1st Scottish Borderers Regiment, third son of Mr. D. C. Loudon, tailor and clothier, Port Street. He is reported to have died of enteric, the disease which has carried off so many of our brave soldiers during the past nine months. Pte. Loudon is the third victim belonging to Annan who has succumbed to the ravages of this disease, Piper L_____ and Pte. Airlie being the two previous ones, the former dying at Kimberley and the latter at Pretoria. This is the first break in the Dumfries contingent of twenty-eight men who volunteered for the front. The deceased was about 20 years of age, and was sent out along with Ptes. M'Kinnie, Beattie, and M'Galliog from Annan. They received an enthusiastic send-off and were recipients of the burgess ticket at Dumfries.

Not long ago his parents received a letter from him describing the terrible hardships and privations through which he had passed. He expressed a wish that the war would soon come to an end, and that he would be able to reach home again. The news of his death was received with deep sorrow by his numerous friends, and great sympathy is felt for the relatives of deceased. Pte. Loudon was a keen angler, while he was also an enthusiastic shot. As a marksman he was classed very high, and gave promise of becoming the shot of the south of Scotland. At Bisley last year he won £1 in the Barlow Competition. He also won £8 and was second in the Railway Tyro Competition, making a total score of 34 at 200 yards. He made the possible of 35 in May last year he won the N.B. Recruits' ________ ________ at Dumfries. At Annan he won the Recruits' silver medal, along with other prizes in 1897, while in 1898 he won the special prize of a pair of field glasses, presented by Councillor Scott. Last year he also won the grand aggregate prize at Annan. Those are a few of his principal winnings, but he won many other prizes in carrying off everything in his class.

Pte. Loudon sent home several interesting letters from the front, describing his experiences out there, but although willing that friends should have a perusal of them, he did not want them published. He also sent home an interesting relic in the shape of a piece of leather from General Wauchope's glove, and the skin of a snake which he had killed. Throughout the district the deceased was well-known and highly respected, his general manner procuring for him many friends, and it came as a shock to many the knowledge that the bright young fellow was no more.

Annandale Observer, Friday 3rd August 1900

burgess ticket - "Burgesses were originally any inhabitant of a burgh who held land there. It was later restricted to merchants and craftsmen. Burgess tickets were also granted to outsiders who had performed some service for the burgh." www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/burgh-records

McGuffog is the name. No. 6969

Also McKimmie no. 6967

Peter

Very sad and absolutely typical, all it took was simply a mouthful of water that had not been boiled, easily done and quickly forgotten, but, extremely dangerous, Private London was subsequently buried in Pretoria.

BereniceUK wrote: In Annan Cemetery, Dumfries & Galloway.

I had great difficulty transcribing the local paper's report of his life and death, and was unable to make out some words, left blank with a dash; the surname M'Galliog is a guess from what I could make out. M'Calliog would seem to be more likely, but it looked like a capital G. As for Piper L_____, it seemed to be a capital L, but I can't swear to it.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.

DEATH OF AN ANNAN VOLUNTEER.

On Saturday the sad news reached Annan of the death at Pretoria on July 26th of Pte. A. Loudon (6968), Volunteer Company 1st Scottish Borderers Regiment, third son of Mr. D. C. Loudon, tailor and clothier, Port Street. He is reported to have died of enteric, the disease which has carried off so many of our brave soldiers during the past nine months. Pte. Loudon is the third victim belonging to Annan who has succumbed to the ravages of this disease, Piper L_____ and Pte. Airlie being the two previous ones, the former dying at Kimberley and the latter at Pretoria. This is the first break in the Dumfries contingent of twenty-eight men who volunteered for the front. The deceased was about 20 years of age, and was sent out along with Ptes. M'Kinnie, Beattie, and M'Galliog from Annan. They received an enthusiastic send-off and were recipients of the burgess ticket at Dumfries.

Not long ago his parents received a letter from him describing the terrible hardships and privations through which he had passed. He expressed a wish that the war would soon come to an end, and that he would be able to reach home again. The news of his death was received with deep sorrow by his numerous friends, and great sympathy is felt for the relatives of deceased. Pte. Loudon was a keen angler, while he was also an enthusiastic shot. As a marksman he was classed very high, and gave promise of becoming the shot of the south of Scotland. At Bisley last year he won £1 in the Barlow Competition. He also won £8 and was second in the Railway Tyro Competition, making a total score of 34 at 200 yards. He made the possible of 35 in May last year he won the N.B. Recruits' ________ ________ at Dumfries. At Annan he won the Recruits' silver medal, along with other prizes in 1897, while in 1898 he won the special prize of a pair of field glasses, presented by Councillor Scott. Last year he also won the grand aggregate prize at Annan. Those are a few of his principal winnings, but he won many other prizes in carrying off everything in his class.

Pte. Loudon sent home several interesting letters from the front, describing his experiences out there, but although willing that friends should have a perusal of them, he did not want them published. He also sent home an interesting relic in the shape of a piece of leather from General Wauchope's glove, and the skin of a snake which he had killed. Throughout the district the deceased was well-known and highly respected, his general manner procuring for him many friends, and it came as a shock to many the knowledge that the bright young fellow was no more.

Annandale Observer, Friday 3rd August 1900

burgess ticket - "Burgesses were originally any inhabitant of a burgh who held land there. It was later restricted to merchants and craftsmen. Burgess tickets were also granted to outsiders who had performed some service for the burgh." www.nrscotland.gov.uk/research/guides/burgh-records

Frank Kelley wrote: Very sad and absolutely typical, all it took was simply a mouthful of water that had not been boiled, easily done and quickly forgotten, but, extremely dangerous, Private London was subsequently buried in Pretoria.

Did the British Army have the same problem in South Africa in 1880-81?

Hi Berenice ……

I am sure that this was a problem for many armies and many soldiers over the years right up until the time of modern antibiotics..... When you read about casualty lists the number of men who DOD vs KIA/DOW there is no comparison 2 or 3 or more DOD to 1 KIA.....

Here is something more from a previous post.....

'A MEDICAL CRITIC.'

Captain Edward Yeates, a medical officer having had extensive military experience in South Africa, during the war and after, and later in Samoa as Captain of the New Zealand Medical Corps, was next called to give evidence. He said that he returned to New Zealand with sick, and on 29th December 1914 reported at Trentham Camp for duty. With the exception of a little while at the remount camp he was there until 14th February 1915. Major Holmes was then the senior officer. The camp struck him as being improperly laid out, and the tents crowded together. The medical service was without system and discipline in the regular work, particularly the sick parade. At first there, were three doctors in one marquee, with two orderlies, who were supposed to take down the ailments of the men. It was impossible to carry on a sick parade in this way, and the witness told Major Holmes so.

To his Honour: The camp was altered later by the removal of the ambulance lines. This was by the order of Major Holmes.

Continuing, witness said that dressings and drugs were kept at first in the marquee used for medical examinations. As many of the orderlies were inexperienced, this led to confusion. Later, the drugs and dressings were removed to another marquee which had no flooring. It was impossible to get clean aseptic dressings. Brushes for throat swabs and thermometers were in short supply. Later, the system at sick parade became worse. There would be as many as six doctors in the marquee at one time. He had seen one patient taken by three doctors in turn, each supposing the man's case had not been dealt with. The number of sick increased from day to day, and was greater than should have been the case in a healthy camp. From the time he left there the authorities should have perceived that something was wrong. The medical men were all of good standing in their profession, but they had no camp experience, and did not know what was the normal health of a good camp. Witness made suggestions to Major Holmes and Capt. Fyffe for more effective isolation, and the instruction of orderlies. Some of these suggestions he put in writing, but he could not say whether they ultimately reached the authorities. Afterwards he made suggestions verbally. The camp site was not ideal, but could be made quite suitable. While he was there the tents were standing in the same place, and when one draft of men went out another would occupy the tents at once.. There was no systematic striking of tents. He saw them struck twice in two months. Men had to buy sacking to fill with straw, or else lie on the ground.

p.s. It was later found that the hospital tent line was above an old latrine trench line...….

Mike

I have Alexander Loudon’s QSA in my collection.





Note incorrect surname.

His Attestation papers survive at
search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2F...4%2F7391937%2F1%2F12 on Findmypast.

Berenice noted 3 other Annan men, McGuffog, Beattie, and McKimmie.

McGuffog’s medals were sold at Christie’s in 1991 on 30th April as Lot 250
My bid of £575 was well beaten at £750 hammer +10%



His Attestation papers are at search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2F...WO97%2F3365%2F199879 as McGoffog

I had more luck when McKimmie’s equivalent group of 3 (QSA, Annan Tribute and Dumfries Tribute) were sold in Edinburgh in 2011







His papers here
search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2F...2F7377770%2F36%2F991

Pete