David Tindal
Rank: Private
Service No: 2874
Place of Birth: Glasgow
Date of Death: 30/6/1916
Theatre of Death: F&F
Age: 26
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry (B Coy. 17th Bn)
Cemetery: Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension
Additional information: Son of David Tindal MD and Janet Hamilton Roxburgh Tindal of ‘Hiawatha’ Burnside.
Rutherglen Lore information: Son of Dr Tindal, Hiawatha, Burnside.
Glasgow University information: David Tindal was born in Glasgow the eldest son of Janet Hamilton Roxburgh and David, a doctor. The family lived in Rutherglen. David attended the Glasgow Academy. In 1908 he came to the University of Glasgow to study for a degree in the arts and took Latin, Education and Logic. However, he eventually transferred to study Law and took subjects including Conveyancing, Civil Law and Forensic Medicine. During his time at university he also worked as a law clerk. he graduated BL on 14th November 191.
Just two days after graduating David enlisted with the 17th Highland Light Infantry B Company, saying that he was, “setting off on the greatest adventure of my life.” Following a stint in the trenches, another letter to his family recognised the impossibility of describing the experience, “there are no words equal to it”. He was killed by a shell on the 30th June 1916 aged 26 and he is buried in the Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension, close to Edward Hutchison, another University of Glasgow Student, who fought and died with the 17th Highland Light Infantry. His headstone reads ‘Through a glass darkly; but now face to face’.
Soldier’s Effects information: Father David Tindal.
1901 census information:
Address: Hiawatha, Rutherglen.
Father: David (45) general practioner, born about 1856 in Glasgow.
Mother: Janet (36) born about 1865 in Glasgow.
Self: David (10) born about 1891 in Govan.
Sister: Catherine (8) born about 1893 in Govan.
Brother: Albert (5) born about 1896 in Glasgow.
Brother: John (5 months) born about 1901 in Rutherglen.
1901 census information:
The family are living in Rutherglen. The family comprises David 55, David 20, Catherine M 18, Albert R 15 and John 10.
Newspaper transcript – Dr David Tindal, M.D., Hiawatha, Burnside, Rutherglen, has received official information the death of his eldest son, Private David Tindal, H.L.I. Private Tindal was about 25 years of age. He was educate at Stonelaw, H.G. School, Rutherglen, and afterwards at Glasgow Academy. He was employed with Messrs A. J. And A. Graham, writers. He obtained the degree of B.L. at Glasgow University.
Newspaper transcripts – Dr. Tindal, Hiawatha, Burnside, Rutherglen, has received official information of the death of his son, Private David Tindal, of the H.L.I. Private Tindal was educated at Stonelaw H.G. School, Rutherglen, and afterwards at Glasgow Academy. He was apprenticed as a lawyer to his uncle. At Glasgow University he took his degree of B.L., and entered the firm of Messrs. A. J. & A. Graham, writers, Glasgow.
David’s story is told on YouTube in a series of tweets with excerpts taken from letters to his family –
Also commemorated on the memorial at Stonelaw High School, Rutherglen, West Parish Church, Rutherglen, Glasgow Academy and The University of Glasgow.