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| Four Raith Rovers players were killed in action Serjeant George McLay. M.M. 16th Royal Scots. (McCrae's Battalion) Came from a mining background. His mother, Mrs Mary McLay, 26 South Glencraig, Glencraig, Fife. An influential half back. Suffered regularly from injuries, one of which kept him out of the 1913 cup final lost to Falkirk 2-0. Played his last game for Raith on 16th January 1915 as he had enlisted in the battalion a few days after the Hearts men. At Passchendaele on 22nd October 1917, a battle fought in torrential rain and deep in mud, he was one of many caught while attacking German pillboxes. Trapped in wire entanglements he was hit several times. L/Serjeant Willie McGrouther, his friend, went to help and was shot in the head. Both were killed. George McLay was awarded a posthumous Military Medal for 'conspicuous bravery.' George McLay was 28. Remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial. 19019 Pte James Todd. 16th Royal Scots. Railway clerk and winger. Alfie Briggs wrote that he had '..good humour and cheerfulness. He is a sore loss.' During a bombardment a piece of shrapnel hit him in the chest, he died shorty after. 12th March 1916. Buried at Erquinghem-Lys Churchyard Extension He was only 20 years of age. Parents Robert and Jennie Todd of 41, Easter Road, Edinburgh. James Scott. 19635 16th Royal Scots Born 1895 in Airdrie. On 1st July 1916 as the boys went forward on the Somme he was hit in the stomach, as he fell a bullet went through his neck. Buried in Gibsons Dump. James Gibson. Played in 1913 Cup Final. Four James Gibsons on Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. Not possible to identify this one from that information. John Melville. No information. These men returned, some regiments unclear: William Porter 16th Royal Scots. James H. Logan. 1913 Cup Finalist. Captain of Raith. One of the first to enlist. Joined alongside the Raith players McLay, Willie Porter, William Lavery, Scott, Todd and Jock Rattray. Logan was commissioned near wars end. He managed Raith Rovers twice during the Nineteen twenties Alex Reekie. George Stoddart. James M. Gourley. William Wallace. Peter Lumsden. Alex Crighton (or Crichton). William Collier. Capped v Wales 1922. War Time Placings P F A P 14/15 38 - 53 - 68 - 28 - 19th 15/16 S/L 38 30 65 23 20th 16/17 " 38 42 91 23 19th Raith Rovers did not compete in the league during the last two years of the war. Travel difficulties meant the West based authorities, and other more powerful clubs e.g. richer, prefered Fife & Northern clubs to play in 'lesser leagues!' www.raithroversfc.com The excellent Official Raith Rovers website. Thanks to John Litster for all his help. He is editor of the excellent 'Scottish Football Historian' magazine. The magazine website is www.pmfc.co.uk/football_history.htm |
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| www.poppyscotland.org.uk The Earl Haig Fund |
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