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David D. Whitelaw

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Photo, Peoples Journal 1925

Military Information

  • Date of enlistment:
  • Place of enlistment:
  • Service no: 21756
  • Rank: Sergeant
  • Service Occupation:
  • Awards:
  • Regiment/Service: Royal Scots
  • Unit/Ship: 'C' company, 17th Battalion
  • Place of Death: France
  • Age at Death: 33
  • Date of Death: 18/05/1916
  • Burial Country: France
  • Cemetery: Merville Community Cemetery
  • Grave/Mem Ref no: VI. Q. 46

Personal Information

  • Date of Birth: 07/10/1882
  • Place of Birth:
  • Address: 75 Balgay Steet, Dundee
  • Occupation: Jute preparer then Jute Overseer, Cox Bros. jute mill, Lochee.
  • Mother:

    Isabella Ritchie Whitelaw, died 1901. Ann Eliza White (stepmother) 6a Liff Rd, Lochee, Dundee

  • Father:

    David Watson Whitelaw, 6a Liff Rd, Lochee, Dundee

  • Siblings:

    Isabella, born 1885; William, born 1887; James, born, 1889; George, born, 1891; Margaret, born, 2.2.1892

  • Spouse:

    Elizabeth Whitelaw (nee McColl)

  • Children:

    Catherine, 23/06/1904 – 29/04/1905;  David, born 29.11.1906 – 1969; Lizzie, 03/10/1908 – 25/01/1997;  Ellen, d.10/09/1911,  James, d.28/02/1916.

More about David D. Whitelaw

David was the brother of Pte George D. Whitelaw, 3/2020, 1st Battalion Black Watch, who was killed in action 11.11.1914.

Prior to the war, Sergeant David Whitelaw worked at Cox Bros. jute mill in Lochee where he was first a jute preparer and then a jute overseer. He was attested on 8th March 1915 and joined on the 3rd April 1915. His medical record shows he was 32 years old, 5ft tall, weighed 118lbs and had a 36 inch chest. His health was declared good.

Sergeant Whitelaw’s military record shows he was appointed Lance Corporal on 5th May 1915, Acting Corporal on 24th May 1915, Lance Sergeant on 6th November 1915. As part of the British Expeditionary Force, he was appointed Acting Sergeanton 30th January 1916 in the field and then confirmed Sergeant on 31st January 1916.

David died of wounds on 18th May 1916 he received whilst fighting in a town called Merville. He is buried in Merville Communal Cemetery. Following his death, his wife, Lizzie, was awarded a pension of 19s 6.d, along with the British War and Victory Medal.

David D. Whitelaw   21756   Royal Scots

WHITELAW—Died of wounds, 18th May 1916, 21756 Sergeant David D. Whitelaw, Royal Scots, B.E. Force.

Dundee People’s Journal 27th May 1916

Information kindly supplied by Catherine Sweeney, Sergeant Whitelaw’s grand-daughter and Leslie Mills. Further information kindly supplied by Michael Caldwell

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