Ploegsteert Memorial
Ploegsteert Memorial
Willington Cemetery
In Willington Cemetery there is a family headstone which reads:-
MARGARET ANNIE LARNACH
Died Aug 13th 1939 Aged 64 Years
Also JAMES LARNACH Husband Of The Above
Died Dec 31st 1951 Aged 75 Years
Also ALEXANDER CAMPBELL Son Of The Above
Killed In Action April 13th 1918 Aged 21 Years
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Alexander Campbell Larnach was born in 1896 at Willington, County Durham, one of five children he was the eldest of 2 sons and had 3 younger sisters. His father James Larnach native of Durham, born 1872 married during the 3rd quarter of 1896 to Margaret Hannah (Annie) Harper born 1875 at Willington, County Durham. James supported his wife and family employed as a coal miner. In 1901 they were living at 85, Russell Place, Willington but had moved to 18, Boyne Street by 1911. Alexander although only 14 years of age worked at the colliery as a driver, his sisters Elspeth (11), Maria (7), Edith (3) and brother William (5) all remained at home with their mother.
Alexander enlisted July 10th 1915 declaring he was 19 years and 9 months of age, assigned as Private 19700, four days later he was posted to the 3rd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers. The 3rd Battalion was a training unit that once mobilised was sent to Gourock as part of the Clyde Defences.
January 1st 1916 Private Larnach was posted to France with the 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers where the battalion was transferred to the 8th Brigade, 3rd Division, February 12th 1916 he was promoted to Lance Corporal. During 1916 they participated at The Actions of the Bluff and St. Eloi Craters then moved to the Somme where they fought at the opening battle at Albert July 1st-13th. At the Battle of Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th he was wounded on the first day of battle. Evacuated back through the lines and having received initial treatment he was shipped back to England July 23rd 1916.
Sufficiently recovered Lance Corporal Larnach was posted for retraining to the 3rd Battalion, April 6th 1917 and returned to France, May 29th 1917. Initially posted to the 6/7th Battalion he eventually re-joined the 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers August 4th 1917 and the following month was promoted to Corporal and soon after to Sergeant. Not long after he re-joined his battalion they were moved north to Belgium where they saw action at the Battle of Menin Road Ridge September 20th-26th, at the Battle of Polygon Wood during the Third Battle of Ypres September 26th-October 3rd. During 1918 they were back on the Somme at the Battle of the Lys and the Battles of the Hindenberg Line.
Sergeant 19700 Alexander Campbell Larnach Royal Scots Fusiliers was reported as missing and his next of kin informed. After extensive investigation he was struck off and declared to have been killed on or since April 12th 1918, the first day of the Battle of the Hindenburg Line.
His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 11,401 names inscribed on the Ploegsteert Memorial which stands within Berks Cemetery Extension, near Ypres in Belgium. He was 21 years of age and single.
Nominated as his sole beneficiary his mother Margaret received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His mother Margaret Hannah (Annie) Larnach nee Harper died August 13th 1939 aged 64 years, James Larnach December 31st 1951 aged 75 years, both registered in the district of Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Alexander Campbell Larnach is remembered at Willington on W120.02 and W120.09
