Just One Forgotten Dunfermline Boy

By Dr Donald Adamson

With Remembrance Day fast upon us and all the sheer evil in the world presently, you may think it is helpful, indeed almost necessary, for us to focus on the micro. Not the big picture -- it is too horrible.

Equally, we tend to 'remember' our direct family members -- but what about those who died young? What about those who never got the chance to marry and have children?

This photograph is of Tom Coutts. He was nineteen years old and lived at Pittencrieff Street in Dunfermline. He was a butcher with the Co-operative, and he was sending this photograph and brief message to his pal, Lawson Dick, who was a Co-operative baker. They were just ordinary Fife laddies.

Lawson went to France and survived, married, had children and grandchildren. They still think about him.

Tom Coutts, however, was sent to France with the 11th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He fought and died at the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915. He has no known grave, and his name is recorded on the Loos Memorial. He never married and has no direct descendants. If you have a moment, think about Tom Coutts. And if you are near the Dunfermline War Memorial, look for his name. You will find it there.

"When you go home, tell them of us and say,

For your tomorrows, these gave their today."