Long-lost postcards from Scots soldiers during World War One reveal the secrets of the fighting men, incuding marriage and starting families - but also tales of theft and bigamy. The treasure trove of WW1 postcards were unearthed from a small space on the roof in Stirling train station in 2021.
In the lead up to last year's Armistice Day, Network Rail shared the postcards publicly in a bid to uncover more information about the lives of the soldiers in the pictures. And now the rail giant has released new information about the lives of some of the now-identified soldiers who served in local regiments.
As well as the stories of service and bravery, the search also uncovered human stories of the men and offered insights into their lives beyond the army and back in civilian life. Ahead of Armistice Day tomorrow, Network Rail has released information about three soldiers: Captain and Quarter Master, Arthur James MacDonald; Private and Corporal, Walter Reddiford; 2nd Lieutenant John Neil Campbell.
Arthur James MacDonald
Captain and Quarter Master, Arthur James MacDonald, of the 8th Cameron Highlanders, re-joined the Army as a commissioned officer in 1914 at outbreak of the Great War. He was dispatched to Stirling from Dingwall with his regiment, and then went on to fight in the Battle of Loos in September 1915.
During this battle, the regiment suffered heavy losses and only 58 of the original 776 men survived. One of those who did was Capt. MacDonald, though he was wounded on October 28, 1918, as the war drew to a close. As this was only several weeks from Armistice, the Regimental Museum believes he likely survived the war and returned home.
Walter Reddiford
Private and Corporal, Walter Reddiford, is believed to have been born on March 19, 1898, in Lancashire. He signed up to B Company, 11th Gordon Highlanders in May 1916. He initially joined as a Private and was promoted to Lance Corporal in June 1916 and then to Corporal in August that same year.
Around this time, Corporal Reddiford was sent as part of a draft to the British Expeditionary Force and after arrival in France, he was posted to 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders. This battalion suffered many losses during the Battle of the Somme, from July to November 1916.
It is likely that Corporal Reddiford was posted as part of draft reinforcements to make up for the losses sustained. From 1917 until the end of the war, 2nd Battalion served in Italy. Corporal Reddiford survived the war and was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Upon his return home, he married Mary Ann Heywood in 1918 and demobbed in 1919 to live with Mary Ann in Royton. In 1920, it appears that he and Mary Ann moved to Wrexham but later that year, he sent Mary Ann “home to her parents” . It is believed the couple had two children.
Corporal Reddiford next came to light in a newspaper article, facing charges of theft, forgery and bigamy. He was accused of stealing two cheques belonging to Colonel Gregson of Southport and of forging and selling one of them for £6 5s. 6d.
At the time of his arrest, letters were found in his possession which led to a further charge of bigamy. Florence N Stanbrooke gave evidence as to going through a form of marriage with Reddiford in March 1922.
John Neil Campbell
2nd Lieutenant John Neil Campbell was born in Glasgow in October 1896 and educated at Hutcheson’s Grammar School, Glasgow. He enlisted into the 11th Gordon Highlanders in November 1915.
Lt. Campbell was sent as part of a draft to the British Expedition Force in September 1916. He arrived in France on September 10, 1916, and was posted to the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders as Temporary Lieutenant. When the war ended, he was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
Lt. Campbell left the army and moved to 20 Queen Mary Avenue, Glasgow. Through the Hutcheson’s Grammar school archives, it was discovered that Lt. Campbell married Ethel May Rodgers in 1934, with whom he is believed to have had three children.
He was listed as a chartered accountant, living in Cuckfield, Sussex, in the England and Wales register of 1939. He died on April 20, 1968, at the age of 71.
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