Three grandsons of my 2nd great grand-aunt,
Grace Smith (1814-1891) and her husband, John Dow (1812-1884) died during military conflicts.
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| Banffshire Journal 31 Dec 1901 |
The
Boer War, between 1899 and 1902, was between the British Empire and the South African Republic and the Orange Free State. Almost 21,000 military personnel lost their lives. 2nd Lieutenant
John Dow (1878-1901) served with the 2nd Scottish Horse. He was killed in action on 20 Dec 1901 in South Africa, when he was just 23 years old. He was the only child of Grace and John's youngest daughter, Grace (1857-1932). It's not clear when he signed attestation papers for military service. Was it when the Boer War broke out or later? His death notice notes that he had previously worked in law offices in Moray, but I don't believe he was a solicitor himself, because of his youth. But would he have become a solicitor if not for the Boer War?
I've found no information about John's burial, but I suspect this would have been in South Africa.
The British National Archives report that 886,000 military casualties during the First World War. Among these were two of John's cousins who were also brothers, the sons of Grace and John's son, teacher, schoolmaster and justice of the peace, Peter Dow
(1954-1931) and his wife, Marjory MacPherson.
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| Aberdeen Weekly Journal 22 Nov 1918 |
Captain
John Dow (1889-1918) worked as a surgeon at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in Aberdeen before he entered military service. He was part of the Indian Medical Service.
John died on 5 Nov 1918, just six days before Armistice, from influenza. This was during the peak period for the Spanish Flu. Imagine how run down John must have been, from long hours in operating rooms. He died at Shiraz in modern day Iran, and was buried in Tehran. He was 29.
David Edward Dow (1892-1917) was just 25 when he was killed in action at Rouex on 17 May 1917. He was a banker and served with the 2nd Lieutenant with the 6th Seaforth Highlanders. He is buried at Calais.
David and John had one other brother, Donald James, who also served in the First World War, first as a captain in the Ghurka Rifles (India), and as a Lieutenant in the 6th Seaforth Highlanders. He survived.
I have found no photographs of these young men, who are all second cousins twice removed to me. None were married and they left no children. They are part of the lost generation.
The never ending story continues.....
© Margaret Dougherty 2016-2019 All rights reserved
