More about Andrew C. Laird

Andrew was the brother of Rifleman William Laird, R/37980, 12th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, who was killed in action 16.08.1917.

Andrew Laird   CZ/2564  Hawke Battalion R.N.D.

A.B. Andrew Laird, R.N.D., son of Mr G. Laird, 7 Viewbank Ter., Old Glamis Rd., Dundee, has died of wounds.  He enlisted when war broke out, before which he was engaged as a plumber with Mr Mitchell, Murraygate.  He had been twice previously wounded.

Dundee People’s Journal 26th October 1918

Andrew Laird   CZ/2564   Hawke Bn   R.N.D.

Mr G. Laird, 7 Viewbank Terrace, Old Glamis Road, Dundee, has received intimation that his son, Andrew Laird, in the Royal Naval Division, has died of wounds.  He was a plumber to trade with Mr Mitchell, Murraygate, and enlisted at the outbreak of the war.  He had been twice previously wounded.  Mr Laird had another son killed, William, who was in the King’s Royal Rifles.  Mr Laird has four other sons serving.

Dundee Evening Telegraph 21st September 1918

Andrew Laird was the son of Mr George Laird of 7 Old Glamis Road and 7 Viewbank Terrace, Dundee. In November 1914 he was a Plumber when he volunteered to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard HMS Unicorn for service in the Royal Naval Division. After initial Naval Training at the Crystal Palace in South London he was sent to Blandford Camp in Dorset for advanced military training in April 1915. In July he was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital at Portland in Dorset for several days. He remained at Blandford until December 1915 when he was drafted to the Howe Battalion at Gallipoli. The Allied land forces were in the process of withdrawal from Gallipoli and he first went to Alexandria in Egypt and then to Mudros on Lemnos Island, joined the Battalion there in January 1916. In June the Howe Battalion sailed to Marseille to join in the fight on the Western Front. In November Andrew Laird was received gunshot wounds to his arms, side and legs during the final battle of the Somme Campaign at Beaucourt and was evacuated to the Edmonton Military Hospital in London for treatment. In February 1917 he returned to Blandford but was sent to Tidworth for further treatment in July. From here he went of a course at Hayling Island in Hampshire to qualify as a Lewis Gun Instructor. Early in 1918 he was drafted to the Howe Battalion in France but the Howe was disbanded in February and he was transferred to the Hawke Battalion. In April and May he spent time in hospital at Trouville with a sprained ankle, varicous veins and treatment for a hernia. In August he rejoined the Hawke and took part in the last campaign in France and Belgium. Andrew Laird was shot in the chest and later died from his wounds. He is buried in the Delsaux Farm Cemetery, Beugny, Pas de Calais. The Peoples Journal reported his death on 26 October 1918.

Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie