In St. Mary & St. James’s Churchyard, Morpeth is the Commonwealth War Grave of:
Second Lieutenant
R. Deuchar
Scottish Horse
27th May 1916 Age 19
Robert Deuchar was born on the 3rd September 1896, eldest son of seven children, at Whalton, Morpeth, baptised 16th December 1896, to Farquhar Laing Deuchar, a Brewer, born 12th July 1863 at Boldon, died 10th October 1947 of Shortridge Hall, Warkworth and his first wife Sarah Ann (nee Marshall), born 1862, who were married in London on the 25th September 1894, at St George, Hanover Square, London.
The other children were Stella Louise Farquhar Deuchar, born 1901, Jessie Elaine Deuchar, born 18th April 1895, baptised 29th May 1895, [Jessie was educated at Clarence House, Priory Lane, Roehampton, Surrey}, she married a John O’Shea, [born 24th June 1887, a wine and spirit agent, in 1939 they were residing at Tranwell House, Morpeth], on the 11th October 1922, {she died on the 19th July 1962}, Iris Mary, born 27th September 1898, [she married a Charles Webb on the 27th April 1922], Farquhar Laing Deuchar, born 1903 and Rattan Isabella Deuchar born 1905. One child had died.
Sarah Ann (nee Arkle), was a widow when she married Farquhar Laing Deuchar.
In 1911, the family were residing at Transdean House, Tranwell, Morpeth. Sarah Ann died on the 19th February 1912.
The Grandfather Robert Deuchar was the founder of the Deuchar family brewery business. They sold the business to Scottish Newcastle Breweries in 1953.
This firm, based at the Sandyford Stone Brewery, was made a limited company in 1897. In 1899 Robert Deuchar bought Pattison’s Duddingston Brewery near Edinburgh, and a year later, Simson & McPherson Ltd. The latter was originally based at James Simson’s brewery in Melrose, from 1839, but in 1864 opened St Mary’s Brewery in Edinburgh. In 1896 Simson’s existing connections in the north east were strengthened by a merger with James E McPherson & Co, whiskey blenders.
Brewing gradually ceased at Edinburgh, Melrose and later Sandyford, and the buildings were used for bottling, bonded warehousing and other purposes. Production was concentrated at Duddingston.
Robert Deuchar died in 1904, and his son Farquar Deuchar died in 1947, following which the firm passed to trustees who accepted an offer from Newcastle Breweries for the ordinary share capital. In 1959 all except the Scottish assets were fully amalgamated with Newcastle Breweries, and the firm of Robert Deuchar Ltd converted to a private company to dispose of the Scottish interests. Source: Tyne and Wear Archives.
Robert Deuchar was educated at Harrow School from 1910 to 1913 and became a commercial clerk in the family brewery business.
He joined the 3rd line the 3rd/2nd Scottish Horse (Yeomanry), as a private, and was commissioned to a 2nd Lieutenant on the 10th July 1915. Robert was scheduled to be sent overseas in June 1916. He was accidentally killed, on the 26th May 1916, at Troon, Ayrshire, in a motor-cycle accident. Robert was age 19, and died at the County Hospital, Ayr, Scotland. His address in 1916 was ‘Loansdean’, Morpeth.
His personal effects which consisted of a Sam Browne Belt, One Bonnet and Badge, One wristlet watch, Part of spectacles were sent to his father along with a pair of riding breeches and a pair of shoes which were at Troon before he died. These were returned by a 2nd Lieutenant Scott.
In 1919, Farquhar Laing Deuchar re-married a Constance Muriel {nee Dusgate}, Deuchar, born 20th February 1895. In 1939 they were both residing at Biddlestone Hall, Harbottle, Rothbury, Northumberland with a Richard D. Deuchar, born 21st June 1920. With 12 servants and a student called Michael Holdsworth born 21st February 1921.
Many of the streets in the Sandyford area of Newcastle upon Tyne were built and named after the Deuchar family. Farquhar Deuchar Snr. donated a large area of parkland in Morpeth for the use of the public, in his son’s memory.
The Newcastle Journal 25/05/1916 reports:-
Deaths. Deuchar.—At Troon, Ayrshire, inst., aged 19 years, Robert Deuchar, Second-Lieutenant, Scottish Horse, eldest son of Farquhar Deuchar, and grandson the Robert Deuchar, Shortridge, Warkworth. Interment at Morpeth Churchyard on Tuesday at 2.30 p.m.
The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 31/05/1916 reports:-
Military Funeral At Morpeth. Interment of the Late Lieutenant Deuchar. The remains of the late Second Lieutenant R. Deuchar, Scottish Horse, eldest son of Mr. Farquhar Deuchar, Loansdean House, Morpeth, who died on Saturday as the result of injuries received in a motor cycling accident at Troon, Ayrshire, the previous day, were interred in Morpeth Churchyard yesterday. The passing of the cortege, which was an imposing one, was witnessed by many people. The coffin, which was covered with the Union Jack, having the deceased officer’s bonnet and sword on top, was placed on a military vehicle and drawn by four horses.
At the head of the procession was a firing party of the Cheshire Yeomanry under Lieut. Ferguson followed by Pipers of the Scottish Horse. The late lieutenant’s troop from Dunkeld formed the body guard. The Brigadier- General, Marquiss of Tullibardine, M.V.O., D.S.0., M.P., of the Scottish Horse, was represented by Major Varley, who was accompanied by Lieuts. Stewart. Spital, Holland. and Haggie. Other officers present were : Lieuts. Webster and Parkins (Cheshires) and Lieut. Drake (Denbighs). The chief mourners were:—Mr. Farquhar Deuchar and Master F. Deuchar, Mr. David Deuchar (uncle), Low Buston ; Mr. J. Sanderson (Edinburgh), and Mr. F. Laing, Fernley Grange, Corbridge. The Rector of Morpeth (Canon Davies), officiated at the church and the graveside. Three volleys were fired over the grave and the “Last Post” was sounded, and the pipe solo “Lochabar no More” played.
He was not awarded any Medals.
Sources: Harrow School;The British Newspaper Archive;The National Archives;The Western Front Association;Brewing History; Service Record;
Acknowledgments: David Thompson/Colin McMillan
Robert Deuchar is remembered at Warkworth on W16.01 and W16.03, and on page 5 in the Alnwick Gazette Almanack. He is also remembered at Harrow Chapel and at the Forever More site.
