Rev. William Duncan Thomson Black MA
Rank: Rev (CF4)
Date of Death: 22/08/1917
Age: 36
Regiment/Service: Army Chaplainsā Department (att 7th Cameron Highlanders)
Cemetery: Brandhoek New Military Cemetery No. 3
Additional information: Husband of Jenny L Black of 10 Leven Street, Pollokshields.
Rutherglen Lore information: Husband of Mrs. Black, West U.F. Manse, Rutherglen.
Glasgow University information:Ā William Duncan Thomson Black was born on the 10th March 1881 in Glasgow. His father also William, was a master pastry baker. In 1900 he began studying at the University, taking courses covering the broad range of the Arts during his time here. English was his strongest subject: in his final year he finished second in the English Literature class.
After graduating MA in 1903, William was called to the ministry. He continued his education at Glasgow College of the United Free Church of Scotland (now known as Trinity College) from 1903 to 1906, and assisted Reverend Adam Renwick in Cowcaddens United Free Church. William then moved to the South United Free Church at Fraserburgh. In March 1913 he became Minister of the West United Free Church at Rutherglen.
During the First World War William became a Chaplain to the forces, 4th class, attached to the 6th Bn. Cameron Highlanders. His battalion took part in the Battle of Passchendaele. Because of the advances made, William was allocated a new post on the 21st August 1917. The following day he walked up to his new post with another Chaplain. After stopping to attend to the wounded, they continued walking along the track. A shell hit the track and William Black was killed by the fragments. He was 35.
He was survived by his wife Jenny and his two sons. He is remembered with a plaque in Rutherglen West and Wardlawhill Church, Rutherglen and on the memorial wall in Trinity College. His grave is inscribed with the words of 1 Corinthians 13:13 Faith, hope, love. And the greatest of these is love.
Soldierās Effects information: Mrs. Janet Liddell Black.
1901 census information:
Address: 20 Monteith Row, Glasgow.
Sister: Bessie F C (22) school teacher, born about 1879 in Glasgow.
Self: William D T (20) divinity student, born about 1881 in Glasgow.
Sister: Annie M (18) born about 1883 in Glasgow.
Brother: James D M (5) born about 1887 in Glasgow.
Birth record information:
Willie Duncan Thomson Black, born 10th March 1881 in Calton, Glasgow. Father William Black, mother Elizabeth Bain Cochrane.
Newspaper transcript –Ā Minister enlists as private. Leave of absence was granted at a meeting of the U.F. Presbytery of Glasgow last night to the Rev. Mr Black, Rutherglen, to join the army as a private. In moving that leave be granted, the Rev. David Woodside expressed his greatest admiration for Mr. Black for his action, and remarked that such an action was one of those things that did the Presbytery good.
Newspaper transcript –Ā Minister and Soldier. Rutherglen Chaplain Killed. The Rev. W.D.T. Black, chaplain attached to theĀ Cameron Highlanders, was killed on August 22. He served in the ranks for over a year, and was appointed recently chaplain to the Cameron Highlanders. Mr Black was a graduate of Glasgow University, and after assisting the Rev. Adam Renwick in Cowcaddens U.F. Church was translated toĀ theĀ South United Free Church at Fraserburgh. In March, 1913, he came to Rutherglen as colleague and successor to the Rev. John Gall, West U.F. Church. Mr Black leaves a widow and two sons. Writing from the Front, the chaplain of another Highland regiment says: – “We moved up together very early to the posts allocated to us in the attack of yesterday. His post was a little in advance, an we left each other and found our time soon occupied with the wounded. A few hours later he came in again, and then declared his intention of proceeding up the line. we were going together along a track that was from time to time heavily shelled, when a shell burst close to us. A fragment of the shell pierced his heart, killing him instantly.”
Also commemorated on the Memorial at Glasgow Academy and Glasgow University.