Sgt Donald A Cattanach 4th Cameron Highlanders

[Will O'Brien]

As per CWGC

Name: CATTANACH, DONALD ALEXANDER

Initials: D A

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Serjeant

Regiment: Cameron Highlanders

Unit Text: 4th Bn.

Age: 35

Date of Death: 09/08/1914

Service No: 260

Additional information: Son of Alexander and Catherine Campbell Cattanach; husband of Jessie Wotherspoon Cattanach.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Cemetery: BANCHOR BURIAL GROUND

[Will O'Brien]

Given this chaps date of death, I assume he died before ever seeing action....................Checked the main site for details of the 4th Battalion Cameron Highlanders & couldn't find it.............anyone clarify whether the 4th is actually the 1/4th Territorial Battalion?

[Jock Bruce]

Will,

I posted some details of this guy on the day, what I totally failed to do was title my post correctly (the effects of age and strong drink, I'm afraid). As you correctly surmise, the 4th was the TF battalion of the QOCH.

For neatness here it is again -

10 Jun 1879 - born at Newtonmore, Kingussie, Inverness-shire; son of Alexander & Catherine (nee Campbell)

1901 - residing Newtonmore

25 Apr 1902 - married Jessie Wotherspoon (19 years old - Papermill Worker) at Leslie, Fife. Occupation given as 'Mason' - same as father.

Date unknown - enlisted in 4 QOCH at Newtonmore

4 Apr 14 - died at East End, Newtonmore. Still a mason. Cause of death 'Phthisis Pulmonalis' of 1 years standing. Quick look at Google suggests Phthsis etc is 'lungy' and that the dust etc associated with stonemason's work may be a factor - but it also seems to be used to mean TB. Doubtless some of our resident scab-lifters can elucidate, my squeamish nature prevents me investigating too closely.

Banchor Cem is at Newtonmore

His low number (250) may point to enlistment in the TF soon after its founding in 1908 - he could even be ex-Volunteers - but I don't know enough about 4 QOCH numbering to do more than speculate (Tom T-M would know).

I guess if he hadn't died when he did he would have quickly been medically discharged in the clear out that followed TF mobilization and wouldn't have appeared in CWGC.

Jock

[Will O'Brien]

Excellent Bio Jock..............My understanding is that Phthisis Pulmonalis is a posh name for Pulmonary Tuberculosis so I would have thought that being a stonemason wouldn't have helped the condition one bit.

Nothing wrong with strong drink Jock