ABOUT AUFC
About Ayr United Football Club
Ayr United and World War One
Ayr United and World War 1
Players and former players of AYR UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB who are known to have served in the Great War, 1914-1918*
BELLRINGER, John Corporal 1326, 5th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Member of reserve eleven. Killed in action at Gallipoli on 12 July 1915, aged 23 years. Parents, Edward and Jane, resided Clovelly, Clune Brae, Port Glasgow. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey. Panel 183-184.
CAMPBELL, Archibald In season 1910/11 Campbell scored United's first ever league goal. Left the club in 1913 and signed thereafter for Abercorn and Albion Rovers. Ayrshire and Glasgow newspapers reported him as having 'succumbed to his wounds' while on active service. Several 'Archibald Campbells' appear in the casualty lists. They can be narrowed down to two principal candidates, however.
- 303001 Private Archibald Campbell, who died of wounds while serving with the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on 21 March 1918. Born Campsie, Stirlingshire; enlisted Barrhead. The 8th was an Argyllshire 'Territorial' battalion and Archibald has an earlier regimental number (5788) which suggests that he served in the unit before the war. He is buried at Marteville Communal Cemetery Extension, Attilly, France. Special Memorial A.9 - 'known to be buried near this spot'. Military Medallist.
- 193436 Driver Archibald Campbell, who died of wounds, aged 38, on 14 September 1918 while serving with 'D' Battery, 119th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Son of Duncan and Margaret Campbell of Kirkintilloch; husband of Marion Campbell, 41 Kerr Street, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow. Buried at La Kreule Military Cemetery, Hazebrouck, France. Grave III.D.26.
The second man is (in my opinion) the more likely candidate.
CAPPERAULD, Robert Private 7704, 5th Royal Scots Fusiliers Pre-war member of reserve eleven. Died of wounds at Gallipoli on 14 July 1915. Buried at Lancashire Landing Cemetery, near 'W' Beach. Grave D.59. (Surname correctly spelled.)
CLIFFORD, Thomas Private 34893, 6th/7th Royal Scots Fusiliers Turned out regularly in the back line for United before the war. Retired from the game by outbreak of war. Married to Jane Young Clifford and resided 218 Rankinston, Ayr. Also played for Glossop, Celtic, Luton Town, Nottingham Forest and Motherwell. Killed in action on the Somme on 19 January 1917, aged 42. He has no known grave and is therefore commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Thiepval, France. Pier/ Face 3C.
CROSBIE, John Coal miner from village of Glenbuck, near Muirkirk. A gifted young inside-forward. Signed for United at start of season 14/15. Volunteered for Lanarkshire Yeomanry shortly after outbreak of war. United directors agreed to pay him half wages for the duration of his term of military service. Ayr and Lanark Yeomanry units were dismounted and formed into 12th (Territorial Force) Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers in Egypt in 1917. John survived the war and returned to United. Capped for Scotland at Cardiff against Wales in 1920. Transferred to Birmingham City shortly afterwards. Capped a second time (against England) in Birmingham, 1922. Played for Birmingham in 1931 F.A. Cup Final. City lost by two goals to one against local rivals West Bromwich Albion. After retiring from the game he returned to settle in Ayr. Died in the 1980s.
HERBERTSON, Samuel Private 7343, 4th Royal Scots Fusiliers Goalkeeper. Killed in action at Gallipoli on 12 July 1915, aged 26. Mother, Jane, resided 24 Louden St, Irvine, Ayrshire. Widow of James Herbertson. Samuel has no known grave and is therefore commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey. Panel 72-75.
GETGOOD, George In April 1916 the local press reported that he had been transferred to the Royal Army Medical Corps, having served previously in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. No service overseas.
HAY, James Celtic and Newcastle United half-back. Scottish international. Played for Ayr briefly while training in the area after his call-up under the Military Service Act in 1917.
KERR, Gordon Former Queen's Park goalkeeper. Signed for United during the war, but left the club when he was called up in 1916. Served in Gordon Highlanders.
MCBAIN, Neil Signed for United shortly before the start of season 1914/15. Enlisted 1914. Served in Black Watch. Later transferred to the Royal Navy where he was reported to have volunteered for service as a submariner. Survived the war and later played for Manchester United, Everton, and Liverpool. Capped for Scotland against England (1922); Northern Ireland (1923) and Wales (1924).
MCBRIDE, Hugh Turned out for United before the war. Reported wounded at Gallipoli and recovering in hospital in Malta in August 1915.
MIDDLETON, William Turned out for United before the war. Enlisted in Ayrshire Yeomanry, November 1915. Reported in local press to have sustained a severe gun-shot wound to left hand in April 1918.
MURRAY, Harry Formerly United club secretary. Reported to have returned from Gallipoli in November 1915 in order to recuperate from illness contracted on service.
RICHARDSON, James Turned out for United before the war. Member of Sunderland side that was defeated 1-0 by Aston Villa in the 1913 F.A. Cup Final. Reported to have crossed to France in July 1916. Further reported to have been discharged from the service in October 1918, suffering from with stomach trouble. Re-signed for United and featured in several games towards the end of 1918.
SIMPSON, Harry Turned out for United before the war as an inside-forward. Reported wounded at Gallipoli in August 1915.
TROUP, Alexander Turned out for United while he was when stationed at Troon in 1915/16. After the war he played for Dundee and Everton. Capped for Scotland on five occasions: England (1920, 1926); Wales & Northern Ireland (1921); Northern Ireland (1922).
*Note that this list is not necessarily definitive. There are likely to be other servicemen with Ayr United connections.
Note also that JOHN CAMERON, who was appointed manager of United in September 1918 had spent the previous four years confined in a German internment camp. In 1914 he was employed as manager of a club side in Dresden; on the outbreak of war he was arrested as an 'enemy alien'. He was released in the summer of 1918 and returned to the UK via Holland.
Jack Alexander, McCrae's Battalion Trust, The Royal Scots Club, 31 Abercromby Place, Edinburgh EH3 6QE
