Thomas McCosh MC
Rank: Captain Service No: N/A
Date of Death: 16/04/1917
Age: 34
Regiment/Service: Royal Army Medical Corps (attd. 11th Bn. Welsh Regiment)
Cemetery: Karasouli Military Cemetery
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Anna Maria Hargrave McCosh; husband of Gibson Alexander McCosh of the Old Golf House, Sidmouth, Devon.
Rutherglen Lore information: Son of Mrs. McCosh, Flores Villa, Burnside, Rutherglen.
Soldier’s Effects information: Executor Mrs. Sarah Gibson McCosh.
Glasgow University information: Born in the parish of Old Monkland, Thomas McCosh was the third son of Thomas and Anna Maria Hargrave McCosh. The family home was at Flores, Burnside, Rutherglen. His father was a lawyer. Thomas was educated at the High School of Glasgow and the University of Glasgow, where he graduated MB ChB in 1905. Exam records show that although he sailed through Midwifery and Surgery he had a little more difficulty with the Practice of Medicine, Medical Jurisprudence and Public Health.
He went to England after graduating and set up in private practice in Woodford Green, Essex. He married Gibson Alexander, younger daughter of Deacon Convener Hugh Alexander of Rutherglen and they had a son. In May 1915, Thomas joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and was attached to the 11th (Cardiff Pals) Battalion of the Welsh Regiment. He saw a great deal of active service and was awarded the Military Cross in 1917 for conspicuous gallantry. His citation read;
“When his Aid Post was subjected to heavy shell fire for over three hours, he, with absolute disregard for his own personal safety, set a splendid example of courage and devotion to duty.”
He died shortly after that, on 16th April 1917, as the result of a tragic accident while on active duty. It seems that he was riding through camp when his horse tripped over barbed wire hidden in the grass and threw him out of the saddle. The horse bolted and dragged him face first through barbed wire entanglement. He never regained consciousness. Captain Thomas McCosh was 34. He was buried at Karasouli Military Cemetery in Greece, some 56 kilometres from Thessalonika.
1911 census information:
Address: Lansdown House, High Road, Woodford Green, Essex.
Self: Thomas (28) medical practitioner, born about 1883 in Old Monkland
Wife: Sarah Gibson (26) born about 1885 in Glasgow.
Son: Thomas (1 month) born about 1911 in Woodford.