This Cameronian is an example of a soldier that served in the First World War with 1st Battalion, but continued as regular beyond 1918 and is an example of a senior soldier, who remained in the Regiment, in this case with 2nd Battalion, in which he rose to the rank of Company Sergeant Major. His long career came to an abrupt end when he died of encephalitis when with the Battalion in Quetta.
Arthur enlisted on 14th June 1905 and above are the two pages of his record; hand -written, not only showing his times home and abroad, but attestation location and personal details, such as occupation at enlistment, family members, address etc. In other words, a synopsis of a career., You will see his line fifth down on both pages. Unlike other soldiers’ records, there are blank columns in the ‘discharge’ section which would prove a mystery, if we didn’t know that Arthur died while serving abroad, and we can look at that later.
This record shows that McMullins was 18 years and two months old when he signed up. This he did in Stratford in London, and in occupation as a labourer. An interesting point to note is that the Cameronians recruited from far afield and not always locally, as some may think.
This valuable document also records he was married to a Martha Elizabeth Darnell and had three children, living in Shoreditch. The date of the marriage was 2nd August 1914 and it is safe to surmise that they decided to wed before Arthur was sent abroad. We can read that he embarked for France on 14th.
Finally, there are details campaigns, awards and any wounds received. We can list McMullins’ campaigns and times at home:
Home 14/6/05 to 18/9/07
India 19/09/07 to 14/12/09
S Africa 15/12/09 to 11/3/12
Home 12/3/12 to 13/8/14
France 14/8/14 to 10/9/16
Home 11/9/16 to 30/7/18
India 10/19 to 1922
Quetta 1922
Kurdistan/ Bagdad Iraq 1923
Quetta 1924
Arthur John McMullins served with the 1st Battalion in WW1, and published in the London Gazette on 10th October 1916 is the announcement of his award of a Military Medal. Usually, the Gazette entries were published two or three months after the relative action. (It took time for the process of recommendation and signatures). We can safely say that his act of gallantry occurred around July/August 1916. Without being too presumptuous, his brave deed could have been during the 1st Battalion involvement in the battle at High Wood. (Citations for bravery are on record for WW2 awards, but most of the citations relating to WW1 actions were destroyed by fire in the 1940s).
What about MucMullins’ previous career pre-WW1?
We know that he joined up in June 1905 and we know that the 1st Battalion was in India at that time and Arthur must have been sent out in 1907 to spend some time before the battalion left India for South Africa in late 1909. The 1st returned to Scotland in March 1912 ( In the1911 census he shows up travelling back with what would be his brother -in -law Edward Darnell, himself in the 1st) and left for war in France in August 1914. What we can’t explain is why Arthur McMullins was home in September 1916. We know that the 1st Battalion moved into trenches at Foncquevilliers on 11th and was deployed with the attacks on the enemy in October. It may be surmised that McMullins had been wounded in the summer and was sent home to recover. There is no evidence for this, but it seems he had little to contribute to the Battalion for the rest of the war.
Looking at the award for Military Medal, it seems that by that time Arthur was a corporal, with 10-11 years’ service. Compared with many of the men he was serving with, he would have been an experienced member of the battalion.
Lieutenant Colonel Richard Oakley was asked to reform the 2nd Battalion in 1919 as they were wanted for service in India then into Quetta 1922.
In 1923 a rebellion took place against Iraq by Kurdish Sheikh Mahmoud with help from Turkey and, as Britain felt responsible for the independence of Iraq a force was mobilised, and the 2nd Battalion joined an expedition to Kurdistan . An extensive account of this appears in The Covenanter in September 1923. They marched 475 miles to Bagdad by 15th May. Soldiers on this campaign received a KURDISTAN clasp to their General Service Medal.
The Battalion returned to Quetta where they spent the next years. There are quite a few references in the Covenanter to sports and shooting matches. A photograph of the ‘C’ Company 1923 boxing team in Bagdad with what is now Company Sergeant Major A. J. McMullins at the front in uniform. Arthur is regularly mentioned in the Covenanter through the 1920s and had become a popular and important figure in the Battalion.
We have in the collection a selection of caricatures of figures of NCO’s and other ranks from 2nd Battalion in 1927. McMullins is shown top right corner.
Arthur John McMullins died in Quetta of encephalitis, a rare condition of the brain, on 18th October 1927 aged just 40. He is buried in Baleli Road Cemetery, Quetta
In The Covenanter of January 1928
‘We regret to announce the death on the 18th October of C.S.M A, ], M’Mullins, from encephalitis, after serving since 1906 with the Regiment and always being exceptionally fit he was noted cross-country runner in his younger days in South Africa. It is sad that he should have succumbed so soon before his time to go home had come. All ‘ B’ Company mourns a most gallant Sergeant Major, and the sympathy of the whole Battalion is extended to his widow and three children in their loss.’
‘2nd Battalion Notes’ and ‘Sergeant Mess Notes’ the following was written
‘ It is with deep regret that we have to announce the death of our very old friend C.S.M McMullins, who was one of our oldest members. Badly as we may feel his loss, there are others who feel it more so, and it is to them, Mrs. McMullins and her children and relatives to whom we extend our deep sympathy in their bereavement and trust their future burden will be in some way lightened’
(C.S.M McMullins is seated second from the left)
Interestingly –from the Covenanter Sept.1928… as a post-script:
C.M.S. McMullins’ eldest son was a pupil of the Queen Victoria School in Dunblane, a school which had, and still does have, links with the Cameronians.
QUEEN VICTORIA SCHOOL. List of boys in above School whose fathers served, or are serving in the Regiment. Bain, J., son of Sergt. A. Bain, 3rd Battalion. Barnes, G., son of C.S.M. G. Barnes. Black, A., son of Pte. A. Black, killed in action, 23/10/16. Brown, J., son of Corpl. J. Brown, 2nd Battalion. Burke, W., son of Sergt. Burke, 1st Battalion., Carroll, W., Carroll, V., sons of Sgt . W. Carroll.. Dunn, V., son of Capt. R. Dunn. . Fyfe, A., son of Pte. A. Fyfe, 2/5th Battalion, died while serving, 3/4/ 1 7. Heron, A., son of Pte. J. Heron, killed in action, 25/9/15. Kitson, W., son of Corpl. A. Kitson. M’Mullins, A., son of C.S.M. A. M’Mullins, 2nd Battalion. Pike, H., Pike R., sons of R.Q.M.S. H. Pike, late 2nd Battalion, Thomson, J., son of Srgt. R. Thomson, 2nd Battalion.
When one thinks of a military collection, their first thought is an assortment of weapons, medals, uniforms and photographs. Although these objects are an important aspect of a regimental collection, they are far from the only items and stories we preserve and celebrate within our walls and, by no means, the full picture of the Cameronians (Scottish Riffles) military life. Alongside the battles and the acts of heroism we proudly showcase, we are also hosts of hidden human-interest stories that we wish to share with our visitors and blog readers. Sometimes, the simplest items, like a handkerchief, hold the most fascinating tales.
Light-green silk handkerchief, square, with fringing on all edges. Embroidered crest of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in one corner.
When I was looking to update one of our small display cases for February 2025, senior staff members suggested I read in our system about a special handkerchief that was part of our regimental collection and create a display around it and Valentine’s Day. At first glance, this handkerchief appears unimportant and of little interest, but after reading the short description around its donation, I fell in love with it. Within its stiches and threads, a bittersweet teenage love story is woven.
I immediately asked if it would be acceptable to contact the donor, Isabella, and listen to her speak about it, wanting to capture in this post and for my display text a sense of authenticity that I feared was missing from the short description we had recorded before. I was so glad the donor agreed, and we arranged a phone-call. Although a bit hesitant at first, Isabella opened to me very quickly as she tried to sort her emotions and thoughts regarding this handkerchief and why she wished for it to be donated to us. The phrase that she often repeated and stayed with me was that she didn’t want it “to end up destroyed,” after she died.
Isabella received this handkerchief in the 1950s, when she was sixteen years old alongside her last – as far as she remembers – Valentine’s card from a young Cameronian soldier, named Frank. They met at their church’s youth group and soon became good friends allowing for a sweet friendship and innocent love to start between them. A couple of years older than her, Frank left to go to Germany alongside the regiment, but he and Isabella kept in touch and saw each other whenever he visited his family.
When I spoke with Isabella and she narrated to me her story, it was abundantly clear how much she treasured that precious time of her youth. She told me of her very happy memories with Frank and how much she respected and admired his family, who she described as very kind and loving to her.
Her words sounded like the beginning of a sweet love story, and one would expect that what followed this handkerchief was a marriage and happy family life. Isabella didn’t delve into too many details, but she admitted to me that this wasn’t the case for her and Frank. When I asked her why things didn’t progress between them, she told me that she felt she wasn’t “good enough for him” and distanced herself from him and his family. She eventually married a different man, had children and built her own family. But, she was never able to part from the handkerchief, keeping it safe in a pouch alongside other treasured mementos for decades.
She told me that she kept it folded in the pouch as a secret, always afraid that if her first husband found out about it, he would destroy it. A precious and well-guarded secret, she finally took it out of the pouch in her eighties, many years after her first husband’s death, and talked with a hitch in her voice of how afraid she was that it would tear while she handwashed it. She commissioned a frame for it and began to ponder what she wanted to do with it.
Her first thought was to find Frank and speak with him, to attempt to reconnect all these years later so they can reminisce about the past. She enlisted the help of one of her grandchildren and found out that Frank had his own family and was widowed, but she never found the courage to contact him and rekindle their old friendship because she felt “it wasn’t fair.” Unfortunately, she never got the chance to see him again as he died before she changed her mind. Afterwards, she tried to give the handkerchief to his children, but they refused it and she approached Low Parks Museum and offered it as a donation, alongside the frame she had kept it in for the last few years.
It was apparent from the very first time we met her how much she valued and loved this object. She wanted to find a new home for it, where it would continue to be cherished, like she did for over seventy years. She told me how happy she was that we would put the object on display for a few weeks during February and that she would have the chance to travel to Hamilton and see it once again.
John Clark Hannah M.M was a respected soldier of the Cameronians and was considered somewhat of a celebrity in his Battalion being looked up to by other fellow soldiers such as Ian Bilbo. This celebrity status came to Hannah as a result of being awarded the Military Medal for his gallantry when ambushing enemy ‘bandits’ in Kampong Tengah New Village, Malaya.
One additional reason Hannah received his M.M, was for successfully preventing an ambush by the enemy as Hannah was seen wasting no time fighting back against the Bandits.
These efforts were recognised as a result of Hannah’s great courage and evasive/ offensive manoeuvres in the Sekarek area of Selumper when his platoon was crossing a swamp.
Hannah also became acting Platoon commander taking over form Captain M.W. Galloway at the time, this showed Hannah was generally considered a trustworthy and reliable member of his platoon.
Later on in Hannah’s service he was eventually promoted to Warrant Officer II and appointed Company Quarter Master Sergeant and later Company Sergeant Major.
Hannah was also recognised as the man to kill the 100th bandit during the war in Malaya. This 100th kill came from an ambush of three Malayan Bandits with the rest of his Mortar Platoon, which consisted of Sergeant Hughes, Rifleman Farrel, Riflemen Baillie, Mathieson Walker, MacMillan and Chapman. In this said ambush Hannah killed two of the men as they retreated.
During Hannah’s time at company camp in Deighton Towns as a Company Sergeant Major, he managed to catch an impressive 42 trout when fishing with his platoon. This in many ways show Hannah’s character, as it portraits his competitiveness amongst his men as well as his ability to still enjoy himself during his time in war. This sort of story only adds another reason for Hannah’s celebrity status.
Thomas Scott was a fast rising soldier in the 1st Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), who received the Military Cross for his gallantry in June 1916 near Highwood on the Somme.
In this battle Scott saved two people from a mine explosion, when both men were half buried in dirt and under fire.
The shock of the explosion from the mine itself did not deter Scott, instead he ran to the aid of an officer and civilian, he then dragged both to safety.
During this heroic act Scott was injured but later on returned to service. Scott then went on to become Adjutant for almost a full year, earning an extra 5 shillings a day at the age of 22, a very young age for such responsibility which was given to him by Lt. Col.. Chaplin showing the faith that he had in him as well as his great skill.
In battle on the 20th May at 4pm Scott was seriously wounded by a shell in a Small valley in Croisilles while he was in a group of six at the back of the party.
Soon after Scott was wounded, he was put onto a stretcher and was transported to Dressing where he sadly died later on.
Before his death, on the drive over to get medical treatment, he gave his gold pocket watch to his soldier servant saying “Mansfield, take this.” and apologised for not being able to join in on the fight clearly indicating his bravery and loyalty to his regiment.
After Scott’s passing his soldier servant wrote a letter to his family where he expressed how great of a master and friend Scott was, going on to say how dedicated Scott was to his Country.
Lt. Col. Chaplin also wrote a letter to the parents of Scott expressing his remorse. Chaplin detailed in the letter that the watch had been sent to them with the story of Scott giving the watch to Mansfield, Chaplin also details that Scott did not suffer too much as a result of his fatal injuries, Chaplin expresses the trust he had in Scott, indicating he was well liked in his regiment.
Transcript: Letter from Commander in Chief of 1st Cameronians Lt Col. J G Chaplin to Mr. Scott father of 2nd Lt Thomas Scott
June 2nd 1917
Dear Mr Scott
You will have heard from the War Office the sad news of your son’s death from wounds received in action. The regiment moved up to attack on May 20th under very heavy shelling and your son was wounded by a shell. He was dressed by a doctor but died the same day, on his way to the Casualty Station His wounds were not so severe to make him suffer much but his death was probably due to his heart not being strong.
Your son was a most brave and conscientious officer. He was adjutant of the Battalion for almost a year. I had the highest opinion of him and feel his loss greatly. He was popular with all his brother officers and all had a great admiration of him. On his way to hospital your boy took off his gold watch and gave it to his servant saying “Mansfield, take this.” I had the watch sent to you with your son’s things and you can judge whether it should be sent to Mansfield.
Please accept the sincere sympathy of all ranks of the Cameronians in your great loss.
If there is any other information I can give you I will be most happy to do so.
Yours Sincerely
J G Chaplin
Lt. Col. Commanding 1st Bn The Cameronians.
Scott’s achievements in Edinburgh Academy and St Mary’s School, Melrose, are instrumental factors in how Scott went on to become a great solider and leader as he excelled in gymnastics, cricket , football and running.
Scott also went on to win many trophies for his school such as the Bradbury Shield and Burma Cup as well as a silver medal for gymnastics. Scott excelled in all aspects of school as he was also singled out for outstanding essays on Napoleon.
Scott also went on to become an ephor which is an old Latin word for spartan, an ephor was a prefect for the School showing that even from a young age Scott was entrusted with responsibility.
After Scott’s departure from Edinburgh academy in 1913 his brother John followed in his footsteps, becoming an athlete himself, playing in the School XV.
UPDATE: Images of Mansfield’s medals as well as a letter from Chaplin to Mansfield and a newspaper roll of honour for Thomas Scott have been kindly sent over to us by Steven Brown.
Mansfield’s medals consists of a 1914 star, war medal, victory medal, general service medal, defence medal and long service and good conduct medal. Chaplin’s letter to Mansfield can now be seen above. In this letter, Chaplin asks Mansfield to write some words to the family of Scott, The letter that Mansfield wrote subsequently as a result of Chaplin’s letter is located in this blog where Mansfield mentions who Scott was, as a person and soldier. The other image we received was a newspaper cut-out that includes Thomas Scott in its roll of honour.
While doing some research on Hamilton Barracks for a forthcoming talk (watch this space!) I came across a couple of photographs in the collection that I hadn’t seen before. They show the Permanent Staff of the Militia Battalions that were stationed at Hamilton Barracks.
Warrant Officers and Non Commissioned Officers of the 3rd and 4th (Militia) Battalions of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and Highland Light Infantry.
The photographs appear to date from the 1890s, and were taken outside the Officers Mess building at the north end of Hamilton Barracks.
Warrant Officers and Non Commissioned Officers of the 3rd and 4th (Militia) Battalions of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
Whenever I come across a ‘new’ photograph I always examine the faces of the men shown in the hopes that I might recognise someone. This can help establish the identity of the unit (if not recorded on the photograph or its catalogue record) and possibly help date the image. Uniform details, such as what medals are worn, or what kind of tartan the Cameronian soldiers are wearing (they didn’t start wearing Douglas tartan until April 1892), can prove useful in narrowing down a time period.
In the first photograph, showing a mix of men from the Cameronians and HLI, I immediately spotted; Pipe Major James Nesbit, (standing on the left, wearing a kilt), Quartermaster Sergeant Tommy Finn (seated fifth from left), Sergeant Major Frederick Brightman (seated centre), and Sergeant Major William Taylor (seated seventh from the right). All of these men had lengthy service with the regular battalions of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) before transferring to the Permanent Staff of the militia battalions. In the case of Tommy Finn, he had started his military career as a boy soldier with the 90th (Perthshire) Light Infantry, serving as a bugler to General (later Field Marshal) Evelyn Wood VC during the Zulu War.
Close-up of Tommy Finn, wearing his medal for service in South Africa 1877-79 and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Tommy died in 1921, by which point he was Quartermaster of the 3rd Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) holding the rank of Major.
Pipe Major Nesbit and Sergeant Major Taylor are both present in the second image, but QMS Finn and Sergeant Major Brightman are missing – suggesting perhaps the photographs weren’t taken at the same time.
While scrutinising the other faces, my heart almost skipped a beat when I saw the medals proudly worn by one Cameronian soldier…
This soldier is wearing the Victoria Cross – Britain’s highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.
This reclining sergeant is wearing the Victoria Cross, the highest gallantry award awarded to British service personnel for bravery in the face of the enemy. The sergeant, who is also present in the other photograph, is none other than Edmund Fowler VC.
Sergeant Edmund Fowler VC.
Fowler was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in South Africa in 1879, while serving as a private soldier in the 90th (Perthshire) Light Infantry, later the 2nd Battalion Scottish Rifles. His citation reads:
On the 28th March, 1879, during the assault of the Inhlobane Mountain, Sir Evelyn Wood ordered the dislodgment of certain Zulus (who were causing the Troops much loss) from strong natural caves commanding the position in which some of the wounded were lying. Some delay occurring in the execution of the orders issued, Captain the Honourable Ronald Campbell, Coldstream Guards, followed by Lieutenant Lysons, Aide-de-Camp, and Private Fowler, ran forward in the most determined manner, and advanced over a mass of fallen boulders, and between walls of rock, which led to a cave in which the enemy lay hidden. It being impossible for two men to walk abreast, the assailants were consequently obliged to keep in single file, and as Captain Campbell was leading, he arrived first at the mouth of the cave, from which the Zulus were firing, and there met his death. Lieutenant Lysons and Private Fowler, who were following close behind him, immediately dashed at the cave, from which led several subterranean passages, and firing into the chasm below, succeeded in forcing the occupants to forsake their stronghold. Lieutenant Lysons remained at the cave’s mouth for some minutes after the attack, during which time Captain Campbell’s body was carried down the slopes.
London Gazette, 7th April 1882
The lieutenant mentioned in the citation was Henry Lysons, also of the 90th (Perthshire) Infantry, and who was also awarded the Victoria Cross for the same action.
Both Fowler’s and Lysons’ medals are in the regimental museum collection, and are on display in Low Parks Museum. I knew from Fowler’s medals that he had later joined the Royal Irish Regiment and had served with them in Egypt, thus qualifying for the 1882 Egypt Medal and Khedive’s Star, but I had no idea that he had returned to the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) once more, serving on the Permanent Staff of the 3rd (Militia) Battalion. A check of Fowler’s service records (via FindMyPast) gives the following outline of his service:
Joins 90th (Perthshire) Light Infantry on 17th March 1877, with regimental number 1317.
Pays for discharge from 90th at Netley on 29th January 1880, after almost three years of good service.
Re-enlists Royal Irish Regiment on 15th February 1882, with regimental number 373.
Awarded Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria, 13th May 1882.
Transfers to Permanent Staff, 3rd Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) on 16th March 1896, with regimental number 5484.
Promoted Colour Sergeant 14th May 1898
Discharged 13th February 1900, having been found no longer physically fit for active service due to chronic ulcers of the leg.
The information from Fowler’s record can help us narrow down the dates of the photographs even further. As he doesn’t appear to be wearing the rank insignia of a Colour Sergeant in either photograph, they were likely taken between March 1896, when he transfers to the 3rd Battalion, and May 1898, when he is promoted to Colour Sergeant.
I’m always amazed at the stories that are often hidden away in these old photographs, just waiting to be rediscovered.
