Private Alfred Wyllie
Kirkbean War Memorial
Kirkbean War Memorial names
Medal Index Card
Alfred Wyllie was born on the 2nd March 1886, at Strawberry Bank, Kirkbean, near Dumfries, the son of John Wyllie, gamekeeper, and Helen Malcolm Byers. Alfred had a twin brother, Frederick. There were eleven children, Robert, Agnes, John, Magdaline, James, Elizabeth, George, William, Alfred, Frederick and Dolina. His grandfather, Robert Wyllie, had also been a gamekeeper.
In 1901, Alfred was a grocer’s apprentice, working and boarding in the town of Dumfries, at 2 Park Terrace. He was boarding with the McQueen family and a Duncan B. Wyllie. Five years later he was employed as a gamekeeper in Largo, Fife. He married Mary Keay on the 27th July 1906. Their only child was Mary Sime Wyllie who was born in Largo and attended school there.
Alfred appears on the Belford War Memorial (although his name is mis-spelt as Wylie) but it is not clear whether Alfred ever lived in Belford. His name could be on the War Memorial, because he enlisted at Belford.
He enlisted into the Royal Scots 2nd Battalion, at Belford. He was later transferred into the (Lothian Regiment, 13th Battalion, number 31463), and was killed in action on the 9th April 1917.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records him as the husband of Mary Wyllie of Kettleburn. The Belford Roll of Honour records Alfred as “missing”. p>Alfred, his wife and daughter are not listed on the 1911 census in England and the Scottish census is not yet released.
The War Diary dated 9th April 1917 [13th Battalion The Royal Scots], records the following: 'A' and 'C' Companies moved up to Assembly trenches at Midnight. 8/9th. 'B' and 'D' Companies moved from cellars to Sewer at 2-30 a.m. and from Sewer to shelters outside Northern exit at Zero plus 1 3/4 hours. Zero hour was 5.30 a.m. An account of the operations that followed is given in Appendix 4. On the capture of the BROWN LINE, the Battalion, less the two carrying companies was ordered forward to trenches at SPIDER'S CORNER, South of railway at FEUCHY REDOUBT. Battalion Headquarters moved from Battle Headquarters in Cellar of the MAISON BLANCHE near Northern Exit of Sewer to dug-out in cutting in Railway West of FEUCHY. Weather - Squally. Casualties. 2nd Lieut. F.C. BUCHANAN in command of 'A' Company killed. 2nd Lieut. G. L. STEWART killed, 2nd Lieut D.S. FRASER wounded, also 2nd Lieut. W.B.L. Easton wounded at duty. Lieut G.V.F. DAVIES attached to 45th Infantry Brigade as Brigade Bombing Officer was supervising carrying party. Casualties, other ranks. Killed 24 Wounded 47 Missing 2.
A War Gratuity of £3 was paid to his wife Mary and one child.
In 1921, his widow remarried a Detchant man, John Tait, who worked on Kettleburn Farm with his sisters, Jean and Belle. The Belford Presbyterian Church Roll shows John and Mary left Kettleburn to move to Bolton Mill in 1932. Their daughter married James Cairns in 1927 and moved to Warenton about 1929. Mary Keay returned to Belford not long after her husband’s death in 1948 and lived with her daughter and son-in-law at Newlands. She spent time at Bell View Residential Home in her final years until her death in 1977.
The only surviving descendant (granddaughter) of Alfred Wyllie was brought up at Newlands, Belford and now lives in Wooler. She states that the family was surprised Alfred’s name was included on the Belford War Memorial. His name is also recorded on the memorial in his birthplace of Kirkbean. This would throw doubt on the possibility of Alfred ever living in Belford. Perhaps his name was included because his wife had moved to Belford before his death.
He is also remembered on the Kirkbean War Memorial at his place of birth.
Thanks to the Scottish War Memorial Project.
Acknowledgments to Valerie Glass.
I am the granddaughter of Grace, the sister of John Tait, who died in 1915. Mary Keay was my great-aunt.
Valerie Glass 2010
Dorthy Hall submits the following in 2017 from The British Newspaper Archive - The Newcastle Journal for 06/02/1918 reads:-
Private Alfred Wylie husband of Mrs Wylie Swinhoe Farm Belford who was posted as missing on April 9 last is now reported to have been killed on that date. Private Wylie was formerly employed as a gamekeeper the Middleton Hall Estate Belford.
Alfred Wyllie is remembered at Belford in B16.02 page 13.
