Remembering the brothers in arms who made the ultimate sacrifice

Doug Purves has spent the past six months leafing through the archives as part of the Saving and Sharing Stories project.

The 50-year-old has uncovered many harrowing stories of loss from the trenches and battlefields between 1914 and 1918 as war raged across Europe.

And at the top of his list are four brothers from the Heatherlie area of his native Selkirk who were killed while fighting for King and country across northern France.

John, Tom and George Douglas were all casualties of the Great War.

And less than a month before armistice, on October 17, 1918, brother James died from ‘effects of war’ back home with his parents.

The four sons of stonemason James and his wife Agnes Douglas, who later moved to Wilton Hill in Hawick, share a headstone in Selkirk's Shawpark Cemetery with their sister Isa Charters.

The brothers are all listed on both the Selkirk and Hawick war memorials.

But Mr Purves believes restoration work should be carried out on the brothers’ headstone which is now at risk of falling over.

He told us: “Selkirk owes this family for the sacrifice these men made during the First World War.

“The headstone is broken and is leaning forward… in other words it has been neglected for a long time.

“The least we can do as a community is maintain the gravestones of these brave soldiers.”

The Douglas family had lived at Heatherlie Terrace and Green Terrace prior to the five boys leaving for war.

John was the first to die on October 13, 1914 during the Battle of La Bassée. The 24-year-old was a Private with the 2nd Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers. He is buried in Le Touret Cemetery.

The youngest brother Tom, who was a gunner with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, died at the age of 23 when a shell accidently exploded in northern France on April 15, 1917. He is buried in the Ecoust-St Mein Cemetery.

The eldest brother, George, perished on November 20, the same year, during the Battle of Cambrai on the Western Front. The 40-year-old, who was a sergeant in the Tank Corp, is listed at the Cambrai Memorial in northern France. George was a well-known professional sprinter who went by the name of G Gardin and worked as a nurseryman before enlisting. He also left behind a wife, Lydia, and three children.

On October 17, 1918, James, who was a sergeant with the Seaforth Highlanders, also lost his life. He was 32 years old.

James, who was a gardener before the outbreak of war, was wounded at the Battle of Loos. He 'underwent much suffering and ultimately received his discharge' from Cromarty Military Hospital, but sadly died back home in Selkirk at his parents' home a few months later. He left behind a wife, Minnie, and five sons.

James' brother-in-law, John Dickson of the Machine Gun Corps, had been killed on November 8, 1917.

The only son of James and Agnes Douglas to survive the war, William, who was a sergeant in the Royal Engineers, was discharged after three years service in 1918.

There are 29 graves and headstones in Selkirk registered with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, including the Douglas brothers’ stone.

Mr Purves believes as the centenary of the Great War is currently being commemorated repairs to the headstone would act as a fitting tribute to the ultimate sacrifice of the Douglas brothers.

Doug, who has been nominated for an award for his research as part of the Live Borders Saving and Sharing Stories project, also uncovered several other Selkirk siblings who gave their lives during World War I.

And one family lived just a few doors down from the Douglas brothers in Green Terrace.

Three of the five Millar brothers lost their lives during the conflict.

Private Robert Millar of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders died in the Boulogne Stationary Hospital on January 22, 1915 after contracting typhoid fever while fighting in the trenches. He had previously served for eight years before war broke out and had seen active service in South Africa. Robert had undergone surgery after developing 'internal complaints' and was recovering when he collapsed and died.

His brother James, a private in the KOSB, was killed five months later in the Dardanelles.

Another Robert Millar from nearby Buccleuch Road was killed on July 12, 1916 at the Dardanelles. The 22-year-old lance sergeant with the KOSB, who was the son of Robert and Jeannie Millar, was 'one of the most popular players in the Selkirk Association football team and had few superiors at half back'.

His brother Alex (Eck) was killed on October 12, 1917

Three brothers from nearby Philiphaugh also gave their lives during the Great War.

Robert, David and James Torrie, who were the sons of Mr and Mrs John Torrie of Calton Cottage, were all killed in France.

Robert had emigrated to New Zealand along with his other brother Peter two years before the outbreak of war.

But they returned to Scotland to join the fight against Germany. He died during fighting at Dardanelles in May, 1915.

Private David Torrie had been serving in India. His regiment were rushed to France and, according to reports at the time, 'took part in some of the most desperate fighting of the war to upset the Huns march to Paris'.

David was also killed during 1915 - and another brother, James, was killed while serving with the Light Infantry.

Peter, who was a private in the Royal Army Service Corps returned to Selkirk in 1919.

None of the Torrie brothers appear on the Selkirk War Memorial.

Mr Purves added: "There are many other families from Selkirk - the Thomsons, the Turnbulls and the Hoggs, to name a few - who also lost at least two sons during the war.

"The idea of the research is to make sure the stories of these families and everyone else who made the sacrifice during the war are not forgotten."

During the four years of war more than 16 million people lost their lives - 292 from Selkirk.

The Saving and Sharing Stories of the Scottish Borders is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Armed Forces Covenant.

During the two year project, which is run by Live Borders Museums, Archives and Library Services, copies of the war years Border Telegraphs are being digitised.

Other local newspapers - Berwickshire Advertiser, Kelso Chronicle, Peeblesshire Advertiser and Southern Reporter between 1914 and 1918 - have also been digitised.

Jennifer Lauder from the Live Borders library team said: "These newspapers contain a wealth of information on the contribution made by the people of the Scottish Borders.

"They provide a valuable insight into the sacrifices made by local soldiers and the role of local people and industries at home in support of the war effort."

The Live Borders research service also allows for enlistment notices, letters from the front line and local fundraising efforts access.

Many events are being staged across the region to help promote and document the social and family heritage of this momentous period.

And multi-format recording of material is being carried out so that it will be widely available and secured for future generations.

Project Officer Morag Cockburn said: “Our current older generation will be the last people to have had contact with those involved in the First World War, whether combatants or those on the Home Front.

"It is therefore vitally important that we tell their stories and capture material for future generations.

"The War was multi-faceted and affected people from all walks of life, from the KOSB who fought in many bloody actions to the women who took on new roles.

"This project seeks to save and share stories, documents, diaries, maps, work place material and artefacts to reflect the Scottish Borders experience in World War One."

"We want to create a lasting project legacy for future generations and improve understanding of the impact of World War One on the Scottish Borders."