David Masterton

Corporal David Masterton

S/4923 10th Battalion
Gordon Highlanders

killed in action 25th September 1915

aged 32

Loos Memorial Panel 115-119
Motherwell War Memorial


Son of John Masterton and Barbara Walkinshaw
Dalziel, Lanark, Scotland

Genealogy

David Masterton was born in the Parish of Carnwath, Lanark, Scotland on 29 May 1883, the fourth of a family of eight born to John Masterton, railway labourer, and Barbara Walkinshaw. By 1911, John was dead and David (27) was living in Dalziel, Lanark, Scotland. Further details of David's parents and seven siblings and the extended family of Mastertons from the Peebles area can be found at the following link.

His War

The 10th (Service) Battalion Gordon Highlanders was a battalion of the New Armies formed in Aberdeen in September 1914 as part of K2 (Kitchener's Second) and came under orders of 44th Brigade in 15th (Scottish) Division. The battalion landed in Boulogne in July 1915.

The Divisional History describes what happened on 25th September 1915, the first day of the Battle of Loos. The 10th Gordons were in support of the leading columns on the right of the Division in the first wave of the attack on Loos village and Hill 70 beyond.

At 5.50 A.M. the gas attack commenced, and, to an onlooker, every gun on the Corps front appeared to redouble its fire. The effect of the white clouds of smoke rolling slowly towards the enemy trenches was extraordinary. It looked as if a curtain, stabbed here and there with the red bursts of shrapnel, had been drawn across the Division front...

At 6.30 A.M. the leading lines of assaulting columns left their trtenches. Gaps had been cut diagonally in the British wire, and men had no difficulty in getting through, but directly they left the shelter of the trenches and the enemy became aware of their approach, they encountered an extremely heavy rifle and machine-gun fire. This was particularly so on the right of the 44th Brigade, where an enemy redoubt on the Loos-Philosophe road, known as the "Jew's Nose," was responsible for at least half the casualties suffered by the 9th Black Watch on that day.

At 7.5 A.M. the whole of the 44th and 46th Brigades were over the German front-line trenches and pushing on towards Loos, with the exception of No. 5 Column, which was held up on the left. ...

After the front-line German trenches were captured, the assaulting columns swept down the slopes to Loos village, meeting with little opposition until they reached its western edge. Here they found uncut wire, and the 44th Brigade came under hot rifle and machine-gun fire from the houses in Loos itself. Nothing, however, could stop the impetus of the attack, and the remnants of the 9th Black Watch and 8th Seaforths, now reinforced by the 10th Gordons and 7th Camerons, forced their way into the village. Here fierce hand-to-hand and house-to-house fighting took place. Street barricades were stormed one by one, and many prisoners taken....In spite of all opposition, using bombs freely, and never giving the enemy time to rally, the 44th Brigade penetrated the village, and at 8 A.M. its leading lines were reported advancing up the western slope of Hill 70.

Advance of the 15th Division, The Battle of Loos, 25 September 1915.

[The 10th Gordon Highlanders in the 44th Brigade advanced almost two miles through the village of Loos to the furthest point on Hill 70 (the red circle). Somewhere en route, David was killed.]

At 6 P.M. what remained of the 44th and 46th Brigades were well-nigh exhausted. They had fought continuously for twelve hours, had penetrated four German lines to a depth of over 3000 yards, and had lost about 75 per cent of their fighting strength. General McCracken decided to withdraw the 44th Brigade into Divisional reserve behind Loos.

The Fifteenth (Scottish) Division 1914-1919
J Stewart and John Buchan
1926

Unit War Diary: 10th Battalion Gordon Highlanders

G.H.Q. 22.3.1915: Letter (Secret) from C.O.C. 1st Army C.F.N. MacReady, Lt. Gen. Adjt. Con.

It has come to the notice of the French and British military authorities that cases have occurred where cartridges have been found on enemy prisoners of which the bullets have been tampered with, i.e., the nose cut off or blunted, or the envelope slit; also cartridges have been discovered with the point inwards. It will be made known to officers in command of units that whenever enemy prisoners are found in actual possession of such cartridges three officers will be at once assembled to verify the facts and to record the prisoner's name, regiment, etc. If there is no doubt that the man is in possession of such ammunition, which is a contravention of Appendix 2 of the Hague declaration dated 39th July, 1899, he will be shot at once, the record signed by the officers and the cartridges found on the man being despatched to A.C.G.H.Q.

Care will be taken to discriminate between bullets as above mentioned and those which, although not in conformity with the Hague Declaration, have evidently been issued to the men and have not been tampered with by them. In such cases the blame is with the authority issuing and not with the individual soldier.

Please acknowledge.

To O.C. 9th Black Watch; 8th Seaforths; 10th Gordons; 7th Camerons. For information and necessary action. Acknowledge. Captain, for Brigade Major, 44th Infantry Brigade. 11.9.15.

Trenches at X1 Sector: Sept 25 1915: Orders for Attack:
1. Objective - (a) German front trench from point of salient in G.34.a.4.9. to the little cross trench at G.28.c.8.6. and the support trench behind this line; (b) the German second line trench from G.35.a.6.3. to G.35.c.4.5.; (c) Loos vilalge; (d) PUITS NO. 15; (e) German works (HILL 70) in H.31.d.; (f) CITE ST AUGUSTE; (g) high ground north of LOISON-SOUS-LENS.

2. Assault - The assault by the brigade will be delivered in 2 columns. 1st Column - 9th BLACK WATCH on the right, 8th SEAFORTHS on the left, each battalion being formed up in depth on a frontage of two platoons; 2nd column - (a) Support Battalion 7th CAMERONS (b) Reserve Battalion 10th GORDONS, each battalion being formed up in depth on a frontage of four platoons.

5.50 A.M. From this time there was a discharge of gas and smoke candles lasting 40 minutes. It was accompanied by a heavy shrapnel bombardment of the enemy first and second lines.

6.30 A.M. At 6.30 A.M. the assaulting columns went over the parapet.
6.40 A.M. At 6.40 our leading companies left the trenches and reached LOOS with slight loss at 7 A.M.

7.00 A.M. Here they had some street fighting and the bombers did some good work in the cellars. All units got mixed up in the village, but formed into line again when clear of it. They then advanced onto HILL 70 where they established themselves on the reverse slope with the 7th CAMERONS at about 11.30 A.M.

11.30 A.M. I and M companies advanced along with parties of several other units over the crest of HILL 70. They were however held up by strong barbed wire, and a scathing machine gun and rifle fire was opened on them. After holding this position for over four hours they were forced to retire over the crest and rejoin the other line late in the afternoon. The position on HILL 70 was held all through the night against constant counter attacks. Two of the machine guns did excellent work on the left of our line. The other two had followed their companies over the crest; one was lost and the other damaged.

Sept 26: 3.30 A.M. The battalion was relieved and returned to the VERMELLES-GRENAY line, but parts of K and L companies stayed in the firing line till midday on account of German counter attack.

9 A.M. At 9 A.M. the order came to occupy our old front line south of LENS road, and later on to hold the German support line, and the battalion spent the night here.

National Archives
Kew, London
Unit War Diaries: WO 95/1938/2
15 Division; 44 Infantry Brigade; 10 Battalion Gordon Highlanders
July 1915 - April 1916

David's body was never found, and like thousands of his comrades, his commemoration in the field is a name on the Loos Memorial. But his hometown also remembers him, on the Duchess of Hamilton Park Memorial in Motherwell.


David's name on Motherwell's War Memorial is six up from the foot of the third column.

Other Sources

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