William Philip Rettie (1892 - abt. 1916)

Born 4 Nov 1892 in Dundee, Scotland

Ancestors

Died about 1 Jul 1916 at about age 23 in Louvencourt, Somme, Picardie, France

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Stephen Rettie [send private message]

Biography

Birth

• William was born on 4 Nov 1892.^[1] He was the son of William Rettie and Annie Low.

Education

• Fettes College, Edinburgh.^[1]
• University of St. Andrews (1913).^[2]

Military Service

• Served 2 years in Fettes College Officer Training Corps.
• Joined territorials when Law Apprentice at JH Patullo & Donald.
• Originally Private in Queens Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry 5 Sep 1914 'A' squadron, Cupar.
• Signed up 29 Jan 1915.
• Moral character reference signed by Lord Lieutenant of the County of the city of Dundee.
• Education standard reference signed by Headmaster of Fettes College.
• Yeoman 3 Sep 1914
• Discharged 22 Feb 1915
• Border Regiment 23 Feb 1915

Death

• He was reported wounded on 1 Jul 1916 in France then declared missing, presumed killed.
• A Lt Rowan had his ID disc circa 6th July.
• Last seen lying in no mans land on July 1st. He was seen to fall. Vilas near Louvaincourt. Said Lt Chambers B company who held the enquiry.

Memorials

• Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.^[3]
• St. Mary's Parish Church, Dundee.^[4][5]
• The City of Dundee Roll of Honour.^[6]
• Dundee Dental Hospital and School. Stained glass window depicting an armoured figure with a sword with an angel above with the inscription 'FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH. TO THE DEAR MEMORY OF WILLIAM PHILIP RETTIE, 2ND LIEUTENANT THE BORDER REGIMENT WHO FELL IN THE GREAT CAUSE ON THE SOMME 1st JULY 1916 THIS HOSPITAL IS GIFTED AND THIS WINDOW DEDICATED BY HIS FATHER, MOTHER, BROTHERS AND SISTERS.'^[7]

This profile is a collaborative work-in-progress. Can you contribute information or sources?

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 1910 School Leaving Certificate Examination Results for William P RETTIE, OldScottish.com, NRS Reference ED36/26/24.
2. ↑ University of St. Andrews and Peter R. S. Lang, Roll of Honour and Roll of Service, 1914-1919 (Edinburgh, 1920), http://archive.org/details/rollofhonourroll1920univ, p. 89.
3. ↑ Casualty Details for William Philip RETTIE, Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
4. ↑ Names on various War Memorials throughout Dundee, Friends of Dundee City Archives.
5. ↑ The Great War 1914-1918 Wall Memorial, St. Mary's Parish Church, Friends of Dundee City Archives.
6. ↑ The Dundee Roll of Honour (1914-1918), Friends of Dundee City Archives.
7. ↑ © IWM (WMR-68956)

• The National Archives, WO 339/31499, Officers Service Record of 2nd Lieutenant William Philip RETTIE, the Border Regiment.