Muchty Remembers

Born: 8 May 1897, Abbotshall, Kirkcaldy, Fife.

Son of William Grierson and Chistina Page, 4 Battery Place, Glassworks Street, Kirkcaldy.

Naval Number: Clyde Z/7977

Rank: Signalman

Ship: H.M.Drifter Our Allies, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Died: Died of influenza 22 October 1918. Age 21.

Buried: Buried at Gallipoli Communal Cemetery, near Brindisi, Italy. Grave No 3.

War Memorial. Church Plaque.

 

William Grierson was the 4th child and eldest son of Thomas Grierson, 1865-1932, born Heggie's Land, Abbotshall, Kirkcaldy, and Christina Bonthron Page, 1865-1935, born Abbotshall, Kirkcaldy.

Thomas Grierson was an iron moulder in 1881, aged 16, living at 153 Links St, Lockhart's Land, Abbotshall, Kirkcaldy. On 17 Apr 1885 he married Christina Bonthron Page at Heggie's Wynd, Abbotshall, Kirkcaldy. By 1901 he was a gas stoker living at Gas Company's House, Sands Road, Abbotshall, Kirkcaldy, with his wife and five children including William Grierson, born 1897. Younger children, Henry, Isabella and Thomas, was born in 1903, 1906 and 1908.

In 1911 Thomas Grierson was living at 17 Ramsay Road, Kirkcaldy, and was a fireman for the Corporation Gas Works. He was living with his wife and 7 children. The eldest girls, Jessie and Christina were weavers. William and Henry were at school.

In 1915 Thomas Grierson moved to Auchtermuchty, where he lived in Gasworks House, Burnside, Auchtermuchty, just south of John White & Son's weighing machine factory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

William Grierson, aged 17, obtained a post as a clerk in the Bank of Scotland, Burnside, Auchtermuchty. From January 1916 all unmarried men, aged 18-40 were liable to be called up. William Grierson was called up on 9 May 1916, the day after his 19th birthday.

William Grierson joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. By 1918 he was a signalman on board H.M. Drifter Our Allies serving in the Mediterranean.

H.M. Drifter Our Allies, Port No LT492 (Lowestoft), Admiralty No 2206, was a 91 tons net drifter fishing boat, launched in 1915, and requisitioned in August 1915. It was armed with a 57mm gun. It was returned in 1920.

William Grierson died of influenza on 22 October 1918 and was buried at Gallipoli Communal Cemetery, near Brindisi, Italy.

William Greierson is commemorated on the Bank of Scotland War Memorial.

 

Thomas and Christina Grierson returned to Kirkcaldy, where they died at Battery Place, Abbotshall, Kirkcaldy in the 1930s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gallipoli Harbour, Apulia, Italy.                                                Memorial plaque, Auchtermuchty Church.