The soldiers from Crosshouse joined various regiments. Depending on which regiment they served with, the men would find themselves heading either for France (which most people in the village which we spoke to thought that the men had served), or they may have found themselves heading for Gallipoli and subsequently further east. As we found out information about where the various regiments served, or got information about individual soldiers, we were able to start to build up a picture that helped to tell the stories of the other soldiers who served in the same battalion.
Regiments relevant to the Crosshouse War Memorial include:
Royal Scots Fusiliers
Seaforth Highlanders
Scots Guards
Black Watch
Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
Royal Field Artillery
Gordon Highlanders
Royal Engineers
Royal Defence Corps
Kings Own Scottish Borderers
London Regiment (London Rifles)
Highland Light Infantry
Royal Marine Light Infantry
Royal Scots Fusiliers – 1st and 4th Battalion
This initial information on the campaigns that the Royal Scots Fusiliers, 1st and 4th Battalion, were involved in comes from research into Pte John Cook’s story. In October 1914, John volunteered for service and joined 1/4 Royal Scots Fusiliers in Kilmarnock. On 19 May 1915 he began his deployment at Stirling and departed Liverpool aboard RMS Mauritania on 21st May. On 29th May, Mauritania anchored at Mudros Harbour, Lemnos, the main port of disembarkation for the Dardanelles (Turkish) campaign.
On 6th June, HMS Renard and HMS Renown sailed for Gallipoli and landed at ‘V’ beached. 1/4 RSF disembarked.
After a month of heavy bombardment, the British and French forces mounted an attack on the Turkish front line, in what was to be known as the 3rd Battle of Krithia. This took place on 12th July 1915, 100 years ago. Their objective was Trench E11, NE of Parsons Road (first image).
The attack began at 7:35 am. By lunch time (time unspecified) a roll-call revealed that 49 other ranks were dead and 62 missing. John was amongst the missing. His body was never found. He was 21 years old. He is remembered at Cape Helles and on the Crosshouse Community War Memorial.
1/4 RSF attacked from Parson’s Road. Their objective was trench E11 (yellow). It is about 500 yards from the RSF position.
WW1 Army Intelligence photography showing the terrain near Krithia. 1/4/ RAF position was centre right of the photograph.