Muchty Remembers

Born: 31 January 1898, Burnside, Auchtermuchty.

Son of John Laing, Falkland and Lizzie Bethune, Glasgow.

Army Number: S/21374

Rank: Private

Regiment: 9th (Pioneer) Battalion Royal Highlanders (The Black Watch).

Died: Died of wounds, France, 16 November 1917. Aged 19.

Buried: Buried at Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, Pas de Calais, Plot 6, Row D, Grave 36.

War Memorial. Parish Church Plaque. Photograph.

 

James Laing was born 31 January 1898 in Burnside, Auchtermuchty, the 5th of six children of John Laing, born 1846, Falkland, a boot maker, and Lizzie Bethune, born 1866, Glasgow. They had been married on 30 December 1887 at Falkland.

In 1891 John Laing's age was give as 25, and he was living with his wife, aged 25, and two children, John born 1889 in Strathmiglo, and Lizzie, born 1890, in Auchtermuchty. Lizzie or Elizabeth Bethune, in 1871, aged 5, was living with her mother Elizabeth Lambert, aged 30, and her uncle Richard C Bethune, aged 11, born Falkland.

In 1901 John Laing's age was given as 55, correctly 35, and he was living with his wife, age 35, and seven children, including James, aged 3, and his wife's mother Elizabeth Bethune, born 1840, Falkland.

In 1911 John Laing was away from Auchtermuchty. His wife, Elizabeth, 45, was a shopkeeper's wife, running a boot shop, with her daughter Lizzie, shop assistant. Isabella, 17, was a shop assistant in a grocery. Betsy, 15, was a pirn winder. James Laing, 13, was at school, with his sister Davina, 12. There were also two boarders, Archibald Stewart, 28, a tanner, and George Cunningham, 33, a blacksmith. The houses on Croft are given next, so the house was probably the shop opposite Croft in Burnside, where the present shop is located.

James Laing followed his father as a shoe maker. He worked for A.T.Hogg, Strathmiglo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From January 1916 all unmarried men between the ages of 18 and 40 were liable to be called up.

James Laing was called up after his 18th birthday, 31 January 1916, and enlisted in Cupar, Fife, in the Royal Highlanders (The Black Watch).

CASUALTIES - Auchtermuchty figures heavily in the casualties lists this week. On Tuesday Mrs Laing, Burnside, received intimation that her son, Private James Laing, had been severely wounded. He left for the front a few months ago. Fife News. 17 November 1917.

"DIED OF WOUNDS - Private James Laing, reported last week to be dangeroulsy wounded in the right lung, died last Friday. A son of the late John Laing, shoemaker, here, Pte Laing in civil life followed the same occupation as his father, and was in the employment of Mr A.T.Hogg, Strathmiglo, when he was called up. He was 19 years of age and went to the front in the latter end of the summeer months. Keen sympathy is felt for his widowed mother and sisters." Fife News. 24 November 1917.

 

James Laing died of wounds in France on 16 November 1917 and was buried at Duisans Cemetery, Etrun, Pas de Calais.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duisans Cemetery, Etrun, Pas de Calais, France.                        Memorial plaque in Auchtermuchty Church.