James Barclay CZ/607

Joseph Bell CZ/2236         William Duthie CZ/2274

Grateful thanks to Heather Barclay for the information relating to these Fraserburgh men.
James Barclay was born in Gamrie in 1888. In 1914, he was a plumber working for Mr Morrison Stewart, and living with his mother, Mary, step-father John and his half brothers and sisters at 48 Castle Street, Fraserburgh. He joined the Navy in October 1914. Joseph Bell was born in Cullen in 1889. His mother died when he was young and his father moved the family to Shore Street in Sandhaven, next to the Ark Bar (which still stands). Like his neighbour William Duthie, he was a Cooper by trade, making barrels for the herring industry. Joseph and William enrolled together in November 1914. James and Willaim were drafted to Nelson Battalion and Joseph to Benbow Battalion in the newly formed Royal Naval Division. All were part of a large group from around Fraserburgh who enjoyed a civic reception in the town's Dalrymple Hall before marching to the station for basic training in England. In the early spring of 1915, they found themselves in the Dardanelles. Joseph was transferred to Nelson Battalion when Benbow was disbanded. On 13th July, they were all involved in the attack on Achi Baba Nullah. James was badly wounded by a shell, losing some fingers on his left hand. He later reported seeing Joseph Bell lying wounded: He was hit in the leg on 13th July 1915 and, the last I saw of him, he was in a very bad way, a few yards in front of the second trench captured. From this report, it was assumed that Jospeh had been killed in action, his body was never found. Joseph is commemorated on the war memorial that stands high on the hill above Rosehearty and Sandhaven as well as on the Helles Memorial.		James Barclay Z/607
William Duthie was also wounded by a shell to his left foot. A few days later, the Fraserburgh Herald reported that both James and William were being treated in a hospital outside Cairo. After recovering from his wounds, William continued to serve with the Division. In July 1916, he was diagnosed as suffering from scabies and was awarded the Military Medal for his actions on 5th March 1917. On 15th June, he received a gun shot wound to his right arm and face and was recorded as being seriously ill when admitted to Wharncliffe War Hospital, Sheffield. He was subsequently transferred to the 2nd Northern General Hospital Leeds where he was presented with his Military Medal. He was discharged from the RND in June 1918, being transferred to RN Depot Devonport. After the war, William married Georgina Murdoch and was employed as a clerk. He died of tuberculosis on 7th August 1944 at the Isolation Hospital in Strichen. James spent many months in hospital, eventually being evacuated to the Naval Hospital at Haslar, Plymouth. He was later discharged as unfit to serve. He returned home, married Jeannie Buchan West and moved to her home village at Pennan before moving to Macduff. They raised two sons. James returned to his original trade, despite the loss of much of one hand. All photos taken after 1915 show his hand hidden in a pocket. He died in 1964.
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