John Gilchrist Hotchkiss

His name is generally spelled with a double ‘s’ at the end, but for some reason a portrait of him held by the Archives is signed by John with only one ‘s’.

The family lived in Falkirk, and he attended Falkirk High School, where he achieved the qualifications to enable him to enrol at the University to study for the degree of MA , with which he graduated in 1914. He attended, and was a Sunday School Teacher in, Trinity Evangelical Union Church in Falkirk and was intending to enter the ministry of the Presbyterian Church.

War intervened, and for twelve months he was a member of the O.T.C., after which he went to Alexandria for18 months to work in a munition factory. He joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (commonly known as the Argylls) in 1916, and went to France in June 1917. He was later transferred to the Cameronians.

He was caught up in the German offensive and posted missing on 28th March 1918. By June 1918, there had been no further word, and a plea for information by the parents was published in the Falkirk Herald on the 1st.

It was not until 17th August 1918, however, that it was officially confirmed that he was a Prisoner of War, and not until 12th October 1918 that the Swiss Red Cross were able to ascertain that he had died of head wounds sustained in the retreat which followed the German offensive.

They were able to confirm that he had died on 1st April 1918, aged 24. He is buried in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery Souchez, France. Because of this uncertainty, some document show a different date of death, and use question marks to indicate that uncertainty.

As well as the University Roll of Honour, he is commemorated on new Rolls of Honour listing those who fell in WW1 which were dedicated following a parade at the Cenotaph in Camelon Road, Falkirk, On 14 November 2012.