William Hill Masterton

Corporal William Hill Masterton

275607 1/7th Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

killed in action 23rd April 1917


aged 20


Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France
Laurieston War Memorial, Falkirk

Son of Thomas Masterton and Jemima Hill
Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Genealogy

William Hill Masterton was born in Laurieston, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland on 19th June 1896, the second of a family of four born to Thomas Masterton, journeyman joiner, and Jemima Hill who had married on 7 June 1893 in Falkirk. William was with his family there in 1901 and 1911. In 1917 his parents were living in 62 Redding Road, Laurieston, Falkirk.

Further details of William, his parents and three siblings and the extended family of Mastertons that originally flourished in the Culross area can be found at the following link.

His War

The 1/7th Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) was raised in August 1914 at Stirling as part of the Highland Division. It landed in France in December 1914 and on 6 January 1915 came under orders of the 4th Division, 10th Brigade. On 1 March 1916 the battalion was transferred to 154th Brigade in the 51st (Highland) Division.

William was killed on 23rd April 1917, the first day of the Second Battle of the Scarpe, part of the Arras offensive, a day when the battalion lost 94 killed or missing and 220 wounded in its attack on Roeux and its chemical works.

His body was not recovered and, alongside almost 35,000 others, his name is inscribed on Bay 9 of the Arras Memorial.

Laurieston War Memorial
His home village in Scotland also remembers him, on the Laurieston War Memorial, near Falkirk.Laurieston War Memorial

"MASTERTON WM" is in the central panel, eight from the top.

The History of the Fifty First (Highland) Division 1914-1918

The attack was launched at 4.45 A.M. on 23rd April, and developed into perhaps the most savage infantry battle that the Division took part in. Attacks continued throughout the day, followed by a succession of determined counter-attacks on the part of the enemy. Both sides sustained serious losses, and many positions changed hands several times in the twenty-four hours.

On the right the position of the 154th Brigade remained obscure. It is certain that at one time they were well in Roeux Wood and towards Roeux village, as the bodies of Highlanders were found in those places when the Division subsequently occupied Roeux. This brigade also captured the Black line, in spite of considerable opposition, and killed a number of Germans there.

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

The Scotsman

RANK AND FILE. SCOTTISH LOSSES. The following casualties amongst warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men are reported under various dates. All are Privates except where otherwise shown. The town shown against each soldier's name is the home of his next-of-kin, except when followed by the abbreviation "Enlt.," when it is his place of enlistment. KILLED.- ...Masterton, 275607, Cpl. W. (Laurieston);..

The Scotsman
Edinburgh
30 May 1917

Other Sources

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