Allan Old (12 February 1894-30 May 1967) kekulé 4

Allan Old in the uniform of the Royal Scots ca. 1914-1918.

Biography 

Allan Old was born on 12 February 1894 at 137 Saint Leonard’s Street in Newington district of the city of Edinburgh in the county of Midlothian in Scotland. [1]

He was the seventh child of John Craig Old (born 17 April 1860) [2] and Elizabeth Selkirk Kidd (born 1855).

He had two brothers:

  1. William Old (Born 02 January 1886 in Edinburgh) [3]
  2. John Craig Old (Born 11 February 1888 in Edinburgh) [4]

and seven sisters:

  1. Maggie Selkirk Old (Born 04 May 1883 in Edinburgh) [5]
  2. Janet Stratton Craig Old (Born 04 May 1884 in Edinburgh) [6]
  3. Elizabeth Selkirk Kidd Old (Born 03 February 1890 in Edinburgh) [7]
  4. Susan Selkirk Kidd Old (Born 12 March 1892 in Edinburgh) [8]
  5. Georgina Selkirk Kidd Old (Born 18 February 1896 in Edinburgh) [9]
  6. Mary Finlayson Old (Born 26 December 1898 in Edinburgh) [10] &
  7. Margaret Selkirk Kidd Old (Born 15 March 1902 in Edinburgh). [11]

At the census of 31 March 1901, Allan Old was described as being aged 7, a scholar, and living at 7 Parkside Street in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. The head of the household was: his father, John C. Old, aged 40, and a time keeper (worker). Also present at the same address were his mother, Elizabeth S. K. Old, aged 45 and his six siblings, William Old, aged 15, brassfinisher’s apprentice (worker); John C. Old, aged 13, scholar; Elizabeth S. K. Old, aged 11, scholar; Susan K. Old, aged 9, scholar; Georgina S. K. Old, aged 5, scholar; and Mary F. Old, aged 2. [12]

17 Parkside Street, Edinburgh.

At the census of 02 April 1911, Allan Old was described as being aged 17, and apprentice confectioner, and living at 5 Lord Russell Place in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. The head of the household was his father, John C. Old, aged 40, and a RSM cleaner for the Government at the Royal Scottish Museum. Also present at the same address were his mother, Elizabeth Old, aged 55 who had been married for 28 years, and had 10 children born alive, of whom eight were still alive; and his five siblings, William Old, aged 25, brass rule maker; Elizabeth S. K. Old, aged 21, book shop assistant; Susan Old, aged 19, milk deliverer; and Mary Old, aged 12, at school; and Maggie, aged 8, at school. [13]

5 Lord Russell Place, Edinburgh.

On 04 August 1914, Britain declared war on Germany. [14]

Seven days later, on 11 August 1914, Allan Old was a witness to the marriage of his elder sister, Lizzie (Elizabeth Selkirk Kidd Old) to David Hay at Hope Park & Buccleuch Congregational Church in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. [15]

Allan Old joined the Royal Scots and saw action in the Balkans and France, being wounded twice – see section on Military Service.

After the war, on 03 September 1920, Allan Old married Christina Elder Scott (born 15 April 1895) [16] in at 5 Greyfriars Place in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. The marriage was celebrated by Declaration in the presence of Robert Rae Scott, hairdresser (the bride’s elder brother) and Mary Old, stationer’s assistant (the groom’s younger sister). The groom was described as being aged 26, and living at 8 Lord Russell Place in Edinburgh, while the bride was described as being aged 25, a hotel waitress, and living at 23 Albert Street in Edinburgh. The groom’s parents were described as John C. Old, timekeeper and Elizabeth Selkirk Kidd. The bride’s parents were described as James Scott, foundry labourer (deceased) and Margaret Matheson Sutherland Campbell, subsequently Cossar, now Scott, Ms Rae. The marriage was celebrated by Warrant of Sheriff substitute of the Lothians and Peebles dated 3rd September 1920. [17]

Allan Old had five children with Christina Elder Scott. [18]

On 29 October 1929, when he was 35 years old, his father John Craig Old died. [19]

On 30 November 1939, when he was 45 years old, his mother Elizabeth Selkirk Kidd died. [20]

04 January 1962, he worked as a Baker (retired). He was 67 years old at that point. [21]

Allan Old died was found dead on 31 May 1967 at 2 Redbraes in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. He was described as being 73 years old, a baker (retired) and the widow of Christina Elder Scott. His parents were recorded as John Craig Old, factory goods manager (deceased) and Elizabeth Selkirk Kidd (deceased). The cause of death was Carbon monoxide (coal gas) poisoning as certified by F.S. Fiddes, M.D.. The death was registered on 01 June 1967 at Edinburgh by his son, Allan Old.[22]

2 Redbraes Place, Edinburgh.

His wife Christina Elder Scott died on 04 January 1962, 5 years before him. [23]

Military Service 

Information about Allan Old’s military service is patchy as his service record appears to have been among those destroyed in September 1940, when a German bombing raid struck the War Office repository in London. [24] Like most serving personnel, he appears never to have discussed his wartime experiences with his family. However, his medal card, medal roll entry and personal documents have allowed some of his military service to be deduced.

Around the outbreak of the Great War, possibly in August 1914, Allan Old joined the 1/6th Battalion of the Royal Scots – not the 1/5th battalion as previously thought. According to his medal roll entry, his service number was 3274. [25]

Allan Old’s Royal Scots Cap Badge.

1/6th Battalion of the Royal Scots was a territorial force that was mobilised in August 1914 at 33 Gilmore Place in Edinburgh as part of the Lothian Brigade. It was initially employed on coastal defence duties in Scotland. The battalion was stationed at Selkirk and Peebles in 1915 and then moved to Edinburgh in August 1915. [26][27][28]

On 05 September 1915, 1/6th Battalion of the Royal Scots was mobilised for war and sailed from Devonport, Plymouth for Egypt, landing at Alexandria on 14 September 1915. [29][30] According to his medal card, Allan Old’s first day of active service was the following day, 15 September 1915. [31]

Allan Old’s 1914/15 Star

Meanwhile, 1/6th’s sister battalion, the 1/5th, had landed at the Gallipoli peninsular on 25th April 1915. [32] The brain child of Winston Churchill, the Gallipoli Campaign was a disaster for the allies and the only major Ottoman victory of the war. [33] After landing, the 1/5th battalion advanced three miles, in constant contact with the Turkish enemy and had to dig in at Achi Baba Nullah under heavy fire. The Turks attacked on 1st May and the battalion mounted a successful bayonet charge against them. For a while the 1/5th battalion were in reserve but were called forward to the attack. This was against a very strong force of the enemy and they lost 300 men whilst making only a small gain. They stayed in the trenches at Sulva until they were withdrawn from Gallipoli in December 1915. [34]

While it is not clear, it is believed that Allan Old may possibly have participated in the last stages of the Gallipoli campaign. It is believed that companies of the 1/6th battalion were sent to reinforce the 1/5th, who had suffered heavy casualaties.

From 20 November 1915 to 27 February 1916, 1/6th Battalion was under the command of the Western Frontier Force in Egypt. This was engaged in suppressing Arab and Berber tribes west of British-controlled Egypt. They had been agitated by German and Turkish propaganda and fuelled by German money. The tribes engaged in various hostile acts against the frontier posts but in three months the main threat had been overcome. [35]

The battalion was then transferred to the Western Front, landing at Marseilles, France on 10 March 1916. On 15 June 1916, due to depleted numbers, 1/5th Battalion was amalgamated with 1/6th Battalion to become 5/6 Battalion of the Royal Scots. On 29 July 1916 this new battalion was transferred to 14th Brigade, 32nd Division at at Bethune, France. [36]

Allan Old was granted leave from 26 June 1917 to 07 July 1917, and soon after his return on 11 July 1917, he was promoted to Lance Corporal. [37]

5/6th Battalion of the Royal Scots served on the Western Front for the remainder of the war and was engaged in various actions including, in 1917, the operations on the Ancre and the pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. In 1918, they participated in the First Battle of Arras, the Battle of Amiens, the Battle of Albert, the Battle of Bapaume, the Battle of the Saint Quentin Canal, the Battle of Beaurevoir and the Battle of the Sambre. [38]

The Armistice of 11 November 1918 saw the battalion at Avesnelles near Avesnes in France. [39]

Allan Old was twice wounded and received an honourable discharge on 27 November 1918. [40]

Allan Old’s Honourable Discharge.

He was awarded the Silver War Badge on 24 December 1918. [41]

Allan Old’s Silver War Badge.

The rest of the battion remained in Belgium until the end of January 1919 when it moved to Germany, where, on October 1919, it was reduced to cadre strength and then returned home to be disbanded. [42]

Sources 

  1. Statutory Birth Register entry for Allan Old OLD ALLAN M 1894 685/5 240 Newington
  2. Statutory Birth Register entry for John Craig Old
  3. Statutory Birth Register entry for William Old
  4. Statutory Birth Register entry for John Craig Old
  5. Statutory Birth Register entry for Maggie Selkirk Old
  6. Statutory Birth Register entry for Janet Stratton Craig Old
  7. Statutory Birth Register entry for Elizabeth Selkirk Kidd Old
  8. Statutory Birth Register entry for Susan Selkirk Kidd Old
  9. Statutory Birth Register entry for Georgina Selkirk Kidd Old
  10. Statutory Birth Register Mary Finlayson Old
  11. Statutory Birth Register entry for Margaret Selkirk Kidd Old
  12. 1901 Scottish Census Records
  13. 1911 Scottish Census Records
  14. The British Declaration of War
  15. Statutory Marriage Register entry for David Hay & Lizzie Old
  16. Statutory Birth Register
  17. Statutory Marriage Register entry for Allan Old & Christina Elder Scott
  18. Statutory Birth Register
  19. Statutory Death Register entry for John Craig Old
  20. Statutory Death Register entry for Elizabeth Selkirk Kidd
  21. Statutory Death Register entry for Christina Elder Scott
  22. Statutory Death Register entry for Allan Old
  23. Statutory Death Register entry for Christina Elder Scott
  24. National Archives Service Records for the First World War
  25. National Archives Service Records for the First World War
  26. Royal Scots Official Site
  27. War Records The Royal Scots
  28. The Long Long Trail Royal Scots – Lothian Regiment
  29. Royal Scots Official Site
  30. War Records The Royal Scots
  31. National Archives Service Records for the First World War
  32. War Records The Royal Scots
  33. Gallipoli Campaign
  34. The Royal Scots, World War 1
  35. War Records The Royal Scots
  36. War Records The Royal Scots
  37. Allan Old, Army Pay book
  38. War Diary of 5/6 Battalion The Royal Scots 1916 June – 1919 Feb.
  39. War Diary of 5/6 Battalion The Royal Scots 1916 June – 1919 Feb.
  40. National Archives Service Records for the First World War
  41. National Archives Service Records for the First World War
  42. War Diary of 5/6 Battalion The Royal Scots 1916 June – 1919 Feb.