Muchty Remembers

Born: 31 August 1880, Ceres, Fife

Son of William Muir, Cupar, and Barbara Murray, Auchtatane, Forfarshire.

Army Number: S/4/094967 then 39000

Rank: Private (Baker)

Regiment: Army Service Corps, then Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire) Regiment

Died: Killed in action, France, 25th may 1918. Age 37.

Buried: Buried Mailly Wood Cemetery, Somme, France, Plot 2, Row N, Grave 14.

War Memorial. Parish Church Plaque. Church Roll. Photograph.

 

John Muir was the son of William Muir, born 1849, Cupar, and Barbara Murray, born 1854, Auchtatane, Forfar. In 1861 William Muir was living at Rankeilour Mains, Monimail, the nephew of David Husband, widower, and farmer of 230 acres. Also in the household was David Husband's sister, Elizabeth, 52, who acted as housekeeper, and sister-in-law Margaret Mathew, 42, and her son David Mathew, 16. In 1871 William Muir had moved from Over Rankeilour, and was an agricultural labourer at Wardend Bothie, Dunino, to Thomas Low, 47, Woodend Farm, farmer of 177 acres, 100 arable, employing 2 men, 1 boy and 2 women.

William Muir married about 1878 Barbara Murray.

In 1881 William Muir was an agricultural labourer at Greenside, Ceres, with his wife Barbara Murray, and sons William, born 1879, Dundee, and John, born 1880, Ceres.

In 1891 William Muir was a shepherd at Elder Bank, Cameron, Fife, living with his wife and three children, William 12, John, 10 and Jessie, 5.

In 1901 William Muir was a dairyman at Mount Pleasant, Cupar, living with his wife, and children Jessie, 15, and Alexander, 9.

John Muir was a baker in Leslie, living with William Beaton, born 1867, and his wife and family. Another young baker in the household was John Hunter, born 1879, Cupar, the son of John and Ann Hunter of Cupar.

In 1911 William Muir was living at Clarpothie, Wemysshall Mains, Cupar, a farm labourer, with his wife, Barbara. Married 33 years they had 4 surviving children.

There is no trace of John Muir in the Scottish or English Census of 1911.

In 1916 William Muir was living in Mournipea, Auchtermuchty where he received news of his son's death.

John Muir's fellow baker at Leslie, in 1901, John Hunter, was called up on 9 Jan 1915. He lived at 143 High St East, Leslie, Fife, was 37 years and 60 days old. He had married May Neilson in 1903 in Leslie. He had served with 6th Battalion The Black Watch, Royal Highlanders. He received his notice from R Johnston, Ex-Sergeant Black Watch, recruiting agent. His number was 7610 and he was detailed to the Labour Corps, Black Watch, RHR. John Hunter survived the Great War.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Muir enlisted on 10 February 1915, a month after John Hunter, and the same day as William Blyth, Auchtermuchty. As a baker, he joined the Army Service Corps. He later joined the Royal Berkshire Regiment and was sent out to France. In the German Offensive in the Spring on 1918, John Muir was killed in action at Mailly Wood, on the Somme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Mailly Wood Cemetery, Somme, France                               Memorial plaque, Auchtermuchty Church.