George Ellis Masterton

Private George Ellis Masterton

704 3rd/1st Highland Cyclist Battalion
Army Cyclist Corps

died of wounds 15th May 1916


aged 18


Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre. Div. 19. BB.2.
Mains Parish War Memorial

Son of Allan Masterton and Ann Anderson
Dundee, Angus, Scotland

Genealogy

George Ellis Masterton was born in Dundee, Angus, Scotland in 1897, the third of a family of four born to Allan Masterton, factory worker and general labourer, and Ann Anderson. In 1911 the family, including George (13, at school) was in Mains & Strathmartine, Angus. When he volunteered on 13 June 1915 (his age was incorrectly declared as 19yrs 1 month - he was still only 18), George had been a Bleachfield Worker. He was 5 feet 6½ inches tall.

His older step-brother William Anderson Masterton would also die in the war. Further details of George, his parents and three siblings and the extended family of Mastertons that originally flourished in the Forfar area can be found at the following link.

His War

The 3/1st Highland Cyclist Battalion was formed in Kirkcaldy in 1915 as a dept/training unit. It remained in the UK until disbanded in March 1916; the troops were posted to the 1/1st and 2/1st Bns and some to the Machine Gun Corps. From George's Army Service Record, we know that he had been transferred to the 51st (Highland) Division Cyclist Battalion, arriving at Etaples Base Depot on 20 February 1916. He joined his unit on 21 March 1916.

The Divisional History records that the 51st had been holding a section of the front line from Roclincourt to Neuville St. Vast (in ruins) since 14 March. It was a hazardous stretch of line, overlooked by the Vimy Ridge and other vantage points of the enemy. Sniping and trench mortar fire was prevalent, as was the blowing of mines. There is no particular action recorded on the 29 April when George suffered a gun shot wound to his left shoulder. He may have been the victim of a sniper's bullet. It is also possible he was wounded in a German mine and raid on 28th April 1916 which had resulted in over 60 casualties.

Illustration from Engine of Destruction, the 51st (Highland) Division in the Great War. Colin Campbell.

On 15 May 1916, George died in No. 2 General Hospital, Le Havre of the wounds he had sustained. The Territorial Force records office in Perth was informed that he had died from "GSW. (Amp.L.Arm.)" ie Gun Shot Wounds leading to Amputation of Left Arm. He was still only 18 years old.

His local community also remembers him, and his name is on the Mains Parish Memorial, restored recently after serious damage through vandalism at its original location in Caird Park, Dundee.


The vandalised memorial in Caird Park, Dundee before restoration. George's name (with wrong middle initial) is 14 from the top, below his older step-brother William.


The memorial after relocation to Caird Park sports grounds and partial restoration.

Other Sources

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