The Black Watch
Piper William Lawson born 8 March 1888 in Leith, Scotland. Next of kin Mrs B Skivington (sister) of No. 6 Hamilton Street, Leith, Scotland. Son of John and Elizabeth Lawson, of Leith, Scotland. A Mills Inpsector by trade. Previous service with the 5th Royal Highlanders of Canada. Before the Great War, the Fifth Royal Highlanders of Canada were affiliated with the Black Watch.
Piper William Lawson 24012 attested 23 September 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec. Two days later, 1,004 recruits had been accepted, and on that day the battalion entrained for Valcartier. Here, when a division for overseas was being organized, the battalion became the 13th Canadian Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada.
13th Battalion
13th (Royal Highlanders of Canada) Battalion organized in Valcartier Camp under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Oscar Warren Loomis. Firstly, embarked Quebec 25 September 1914 aboard ALAUNIA, and disembarked in England on 16 October 1914 with a strength of 45 officers, 1110 other ranks. Disembarked in France on 16 February 1915, with the 1st Canadian Division, 3rd Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 20th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
Avonmouth
Early on the morning of 11 February 1915, the men of the 13th Battalion discovered Avonmouth their destination. When this port reached, somewhat before dawn, they immediately detrained and started to board the SS NOVIAN, awaiting them. Later, embarkation of men, horses and wagons smartly carried out, after which the men allowed some sleep. In addition to the 31 officers and 1,002 men of the 13th, the NOVIAN carried the Divisional Ammunition Column, with its complement of over 200 horses.
In company with other transports and under the protection of destroyers, the NOVIAN sailed at dawn on 12 February 1915 course towards the Lizard and the Bay of Biscay. Then, a strong wind sprang up, and by morning on the 13th this had developed into a rousing gale, which compelled the torpedo boats to seek shelter and forced Captain McCormack, of the NOVIAN, to turn his bows into the wind to lessen the roll of the ship, which endangered the lives of the horses. The decision to change course and proceed out to sea was wise and seaman-like, but its necessity was unfortunate from the point of view of the troops. Finally, sea-sickness, that scourge of the ocean, had laid hold on these latter and, being no respecter of persons, was having its way with officers and men alike.
Seasickness
Down in the crowded holds the scene was one to beggar description. Nine tenths of the men were ill, desperately ill, and no one could help them in their misery. In the dining saloon, where the officers quartered, matters only relatively better. One company commander, returning from a tour on deck, found his berth occupied by a very miserable subaltern, whose distress had driven him to seek .some refuge other than the crowded floor of the dining saloon. Pitying his junior’s condition, the company commander waived possession of the berth for several hours, but at last he himself fell a victim and forced to claim his right. The holds were in an awful condition, but the men were quite too sick to care.
Deserters
During the voyage two men of the 13th, who had deserted from the camp at Larkhill, turned up as stowaways on the boat. How they learned from what port and on what boat the Battalion would sail a puzzle, for even the officers of the Battalion in ignorance of these details when the unit marched from Salisburv Plain. A court of enquiry held on board ship decided, as a punishment for desertion, handed over to the military authorities in France. Accordingly held under close arrest until France reached and then handed over to the A.M.L.O. The latter, however, promptly handed them back again, assuring the Battalion not interested in what he called its private affairs. This action on the part of the A.M.L.O. viewed by the stowaways with ill concealed delight.
St. Nazaire
As soon as the vessel docked, preparations to unload the horses and wagons began, but just at this moment the stevedores of St. Nazaire, who had general charge of the arrangements, went on something resembling a strike. Nothing deterred, the Highlanders promptly undertook the work themselves.
Following on the heels of a strong advance party, under the command of Capt. William H. Clark-Kennedy the Battalion disembarked from the Novian and lined up on the dock for the march through the streets of St. Nazaire to the railway station. Before giving the order to march, Lieut.-Col. Loomis called for three cheers for Captain McCormack and the officers of the Novian who, throughout the unexpectedly prolonged voyage, had done all that lay in their power to make things as comfortable as possible for both officers and men. In spite of sea-sickness, these efforts on the part of the sailor officers not unappreciated by the Highlanders, and the cheers given with a right good will.
Entraining for Belgium
Seven o’clock in the evening found Piper William Lawson at St. Nazaire Station, entraining for the long journey to the front. For two days and two nights the train crept on its way, with occasional brief stops to give the troops a chance to get some food and to stretch their legs. This latter arrangement almost as necessary as food, for the cars of the typical box variety, known to fame as “40 hommes, 8 chevaux,” and allowed no space for even the most limited exercise. The route lay through Nantes, Rouen, Boulogne, Calais and St. Omer, thence to Hazebrouck, reached at 6.30 p.m. on February 19th. The men stiff and sore after the journey, but detrained smartly and started off without delay on a seven mile march to Flêtre.
At Caestre Capt. Clark-Kennedy met the Battalion and the march to Flêtre continued under his guidance. The front, that legendary region of unspoken hopes and fears, was now within sight and hearing. On reaching Flêtre billets secured and the men turned in with as little delay as possible. Curiosity as to their surroundings would undoubtedly possess them in the morning; at the moment tired and wet, and delighted to sleep. Quiet, therefore, settled over the billets at a comparatively early hour. Four days and five nights spent at Flêtre, the men occupied in preparing themselves for the trenches.
Canon Scott
On February 20th the Battalion inspected at Caestre by the Commander-in-Chief, Field-Marshal Sir John French, who, in the little speech that customarily follows such events, expressed himself as well pleased with the Battalion’s general showing. On the following day the 13th, in company with the 14th Royal Montreal Regiment, paraded for Divine Service in a field just near Flêtre Church, Canon Scott, from Quebec, officiating.
Armentieres
For some little time the 13th was attached to the 16th (British) Brigade, doing the ordinary routine of trench work. On 1 March 1915, two companies in the trenches left at 5 pm and arrived in billets without a casualty. The following day, the men fell in and marched 8 miles to SAILLY, and later inspected by General Lawson on 3 March 1915. Then, the battalion moved back into the trenches on 6 March 1915, and after three nights and days in the trenches, the men pulled out being relieved by the 16th Battalion. Finally, on 13 March 1915, Piper William Lawson paraded at 6:40 pm for the trenches.
On 15 March 1915, General Turner visited the trenches. Owing to the peculiar nature of the front line the problem of enfilade was annoying – enemy snipers quite active. On one occasion five men in a post towards the right front were simultaneously wounded by fire of this description. The following day, Piper William Lawson died of wounds, at No.3 Canadian Field Ambulance, 16 March 1915. Four other privates were killed during the tour and several wounded.
Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix
Piper William Lawson the 10th battlefield casualty of the 13th Battalion in the Great War, buried in Plot II, Row B, Grave 2 of Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix.
Fleurbaix a village 5 kilometres south-west of Armentieres at the junction of the road from Armentieres and the road to Bethune. Petillon a village to the south of Fleurbaix and Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery 3 kilometres south of Fleurbaix on the south side of the road from Petillon to La Boutillerie.