George Masterton

Private George Masterton

George Masterton1254, "C" Company, 1/6th Battalion
Scottish Rifles (Cameronians)

killed in action 15th June 1915

aged 20

Brown's Road Military Cemetery,
Festubert. VII. G.14
Bothwell War Memorial


Son of James Masterton and Margaret Duncan Milne
Bothwell, Lanark, Scotland

Genealogy

George Masterton was born at Agra Bank Buildings, Bothwell, Lanark, Scotland on 8 September 1894, the eldest son of James Masterton, foreman blacksmith, and Margaret Duncan Milne. By 1915, the family was living in 5 Murray Place, Fallside Road, Bothwell, Lanark, Scotland. Further details of George's parents and five younger siblings and the extended family of Mastertons from the Cramond area can be found at the following link.

His War

The 1/6th Battalion Scottish Rifles was a Territorial battalion and in August 1914 was billetted at Muirhall in Hamilton as part of the Scottish Rifle Brigade, Lowland Division. In March 1915, it moved to France landing at Le Havre on 21 March 1915. After two months as part of 23rd Brigade, 8th Division, it was transferred to 154th Brigade in the 51st (Highland) Division.

The Divisional History describes what happened on 15th June 1915 in the Second Action of Givenchy.

At 6 P.M., 15th June, the attack was launched by the 4th Loyal North Lancashires and the 6th Scottish Rifles of the 154th Brigade.The attack was at first successful; the west end of the German salient was carried, and the attack pushed on to the main German line near the Rue d'Ouvert, and for a time the third German trench line was occupied and held. Three companies of the 4th King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment were accordingly sent forward to reinforce the Scottish Rifles.

...the following extracts from a letter written by a platoon sergeant who took part in the attack -
"On the 15th we had a most uncomfortable day. The Boche rose early, having apparently known our plans. In fact, some of them were heard to call across No Man's Land, 'Come along, Jocks; we are waiting for you.' And undoubtedly they were. From early morning we were subjected to continual shell-fire, causing many casualties to us. As the afternoon drew on the Boche became still more lively, but we still had great hopes. These, however. became fainter as each occasional look over the top showed the German wire unbroken..."

"At last the hour had come for the 6th Scottish Rifles. Over they went. Then the Germans showed to advantage the quantity and quality of their munitions. Machine-guns swept over the parapets and tore them to pieces; the 154th Infantry Brigade were seen to be advancing gloriously in front of the most colossal artillery and machine-gun fire - their ranks thinned considerably before they were many yards from their own trenches. But on they went and entered the German front line, where they were lost to view."

The History of the Fifty First (Highland) Division 1914-1918
F.W. Bewsher
1920

War Diary 1/6th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

FESTUBERT: 15th June 1915: The morning broke bright & sunny, & the day proved a hot one from the Battalion in more senses than one - overnight & in the morning the officers kits & ? ? were collected & placed in separate ? units skeleton marching order was to be worn - The artillery on both sides was very active, & a good deal of hostile fire was directed on our line & support trenches. During one burst of fire D Coy in the support trench sustained 16 casualties, & a number of men in A & C Coys in the fire trench were hit during the day. About 3 p.m. 2/Lieut. A.G.E. HILL (A Coy) was severely wounded in the throat. A message was received from the 154th Bde that the following would be the scale of intensive bombardment immediately before & during the attack :-

From 5.30 pm to 5.55 pm. Heavy bombardment of enemy first trench
From 5.55 to 6.3. SLD ? on do.
From 6.3 to 6.6. G light up 100 yards forward
From 6.6 to 6.21. Bombardment of enemy 2nd line trenches
From 6.21 pm half an hour bombardment of RUE D'ENFER OP

No details were given of the subsequent action of the guns & it was assumed they would take on any target which presented itself, as well as forming the necessary barrage on the left flank & to the rear. The Brigade message also ordered that the leading platoon was to advance at 5.57 pm so that it may not be ? to the enemy trench before the first lift. By the first hour ? (5.30 pm) the bombardment on both sides had become very heavy & our fire trench & that of the enemy suffered a great deal of carnage - the ground between L8 & the enemy received a great many shells & huge masses of earth & stones were constantly thrown up. All watches had been synchronised with Army Time hourly during the day & the leading platoon of A Coy of the Battalion, commanded by 2/Lieut. C.S. MACDONALD, together with the leading platoon of the 1/4th Royal North Lancashire Regt jumped the parapet exactly at 5.57 p.m. The other 4 Coys in the assault were A, C, D & B, & the Battalion Bombing party accompanied the first platoon over, & two machine guns followed at the rear of A Coy.

Our frontage extended to about 100 yards to the left of a line between L8 & the enemy saps & the distance to be crossed was about 200 yards - the difficulty of assaulting lay in the fact that the deep ditch, ? to above, had to be crossed before the enemy trench was reached - C & D Coys followed close on the heels of A Coy & Major SHAW crossed with D Coy; the Commanding Officer & Adjutant remained as L8 with B Coy as Battalion Reserve. Shortly after the leading platoon left our trench the whole of our fire trench, L8 & the ground between it & the German Trench were absolutely deluged with enemy fire, artillery of all sizes, machine gun & rifle, & the trench and sap head were badly damaged; in fact the saps were practically levelled to the ground. From the number of casualties sustained by the two leading Coys it was evident that the Reserve Coy was wanted & it was accordingly sent forward, accompanied by the C.O. & Adjutant, who were both wounded immediately on leaving L8. A message was sent to ? reporting the situation & calling for support. The attack was not checked by the enemy fire & the ? their salient bombed & taken at the point of the bayonet. An artillery observation officer afterwards stated the he had witnessed a number of charges by infantry since the war commenced, but he had never seen one carried out with such vim & expedition.

It was particularly splendid in face of such a terrific fire - our artillery had completely cut the wire in front of the enemy salient, but a little to the left of it the wire was more or less intact & many of the men fell in attempting to cut it & force a way through - there was also great difficulty with the ditch & the bridges were almost all destroyed by the hostile artillery at a very early stage of the assault. The first enemy trench was found to be occupied in some strength, but its garrison was driven out by bombs & the bayonet - as we rushed forward up the German Trench a number of the enemy took refuge in their shelters & offered money & presents to the advancing bombers to spare them, but the bombers remembered FROMELLES on 9th May & the work of our 2nd Battalion at NEUVE CHAPPELLE, & gave no quarter. Before dark the enemy were completely driven out of the salient, & we had captured the second line.

At this point their resistance became more determined & strong & reinforcements were seen coming over the rise in the ground to their support - we had lost very heavily by this time & only 3 officers were left; supports were absolutely necessary but as none arrived the remains of the Battn dug themselves in & hung on. The fire of the enemy's machine guns & rifles was very heavy & our left flank was seriously threatened by their bombers. In spite of all however the Battn with the Royal North Lancs on its right held obstinately on to the ground won. As the Battn & the North Lancs were the only troops who had got through, our flanks were much exposed to attack by rifle & bombs, but the counter-attacks of the enemy were invariably unsuccessful. The position was maintained until nearly midnight, when the Royal North Lancs were observed retiring on their own trench. The Battalion however having received no orders kept their ground until shortly before 1 a.m. on the morning of the 16th June, when they received an order to retire.

The withdrawal was effected in a most praiseworthy & orderly manner, but unfortunately many casualties were sustained before our own trench was reached.

National Archives
Kew, London
WO 95/2887/6
1/6 Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
March 1915 - May 1916

George is buried in Brown's Road Military Cemetery, Festubert and is commemorated on the Bothwell War Memorial, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Evening Times

Official intimation has been received by his parents of the death of Private George Masterton, Bothwell, 1-6th Scottish Rifles, who was killed in action on June 15. Deceased, who was the eldest son of Mr James Masterton, foreman blacksmith, 5 Murray Place, Bothwell, and had been connected with the Volunteers since 1910, was a blacksmith with Messrs William Baird and Company, Bothwell Collieries, before volunteering for active service.

Evening Times
Glasgow
5 July 1915

The Scotsman

BOTHWELL: Private George Masterton, 6th Scottish Rifles, was killed in action on 15th June. Deceased was the eldest son of Mr James Masterton, foreman blacksmith, 5 Murray Place, Bothwell.

The Scotsman
Edinburgh
5 July 1915

Other Sources

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