Search under way for fallen soldier’s family

William Walker Tait, a private in the 5th battalion of the Cameron Highlanders, was just 20 years old when he died in the Battle of Loos on the Western Front in France on September 25, 1915.

Although, as was the case with so many others, his body was never identified, William was awarded a British War Medal and a Victory Medal.

His family would also have received a death plaque, an honour commemorating his passing.

That plaque somehow found its way into the collection of a seller of military memorabilia on the Isle of Wight, and he recently sold it to Calum Ross, of Dalkeith Place in Hawick.

Calum, a self-employed copy editor and proofreader, is now hoping he can reunite the plaque with any surviving family of William’s.

William was the son of Robert and Euphemia Walker Tait, of Hawick’s Bourtree Place, and before joining up, he worked at Walter Wilson and Sons’ hosiery factory.

Calum, 53, said: “I collect a lot of militaria and quite like returning medals to families if I can.

“When someone died in the First World War, the family would be sent a death plaque. It’s bigger than the palm of your hand but not much bigger.

“It has the man’s name on it. William must have been the only one in the war to have had that name, and because he has such a unique name, we know it is definitely his death plaque.

“I look online for things that are Hawick-related and I bought it directly from a dealer based on the Isle of Wight. If someone wanted it, I would obviously let them have it for what I paid for it.

“I messaged a guy that I know whose surname is Tait, and he was going to check with his dad, but he’s not aware of anyone in his family that was in the war, but a lot of people don’t speak about those kinds of things.

“I think from what I can gather that William was not married, so he probably didn’t have children, but I’m hoping he had brothers or sisters or relatives somewhere.

“He died in the Battle of Loos, in which a lot of people from around here died.

“He died on the exact same date and in the same area as my great-granny’s stepbrother, William Armstrong, who was from Hawick and was serving in the 7th battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders.”

If you can help Calum track down relatives of William’s, email him at [email protected]