Private Henry Welsh

Private Henry J. Welsh, 1st/7th ( Territorial )  Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He died on Active Service in the 11th Field Ambulance, Armentieres, France, aged 22, from pneumonia on 26th January 1915. He is buried in Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France. He  was the eldest  son of  Robert and Christina Welsh of Clint Mains, Mertoun and Restalrig Square, Edinburgh. Before enlisting he was in business  in Stirling where joined the Argylls. Before he left Mertoun he had been secretary of the Reading Room Association, the Flower Show and the Young Men’s Guild. He had also rendered great service to the Parish Church choir. The Battalion was part of the 153 Brigade in the 51st ( Highland ) Division and after the War an impressive Memorial was raised in commemoration. It was erected overlooking “Y” Ravine on the Somme where on the 13th November 1916 the Division had stormed the strong German positions in Beaumont Hamel. A Plaque on the Memorial reads in both English and Gaelic ” Friends Are Good On The Day Of Battle”. ( His brother Alexander also fell – see below ).

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