Two sisters from Dundee are getting ready to undertake an emotional pilgrimage from Tayside to the grave of their great uncle who passed away on the first day of the Battle of Loos.
Jane O’Neill, originally from Dundee but now living in Newport, and Mary Ross, of Dundee, are making the trip to France after being inspired by family stories of their great-uncle, Private Patrick Kilmartin, who was killed on the first day of the battle, having signed up as an ambitious 17-year-old.
The pair have also arranged with Lord Provost Bob Duncan to lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Tayside and Fife.
As part of their trip Jane, 66, and Mary, 67, will be taken on a guided tour around the battlefields of Loos, as well as visiting their uncle’s final resting place.
Jane explained that an overwhelming desire to keep her fallen relative’s name and story alive fuelled her desire to undertake the trip.
She said: “This is going to be a very emotional trip for us. I grew up hearing stories from my gran about my great-uncle and how he fell.
“Patrick was just a poor boy from Fife who signed up to The Black Watch in August 1914. He spent six months training in England before being assigned to France.
“He died from shell fire on September 25 1915, in a subsidiary battle on the first day of the Battle of Loos. He had barely been in France a month.
“There will have been lots of families at that time who wouldn’t have had the means to visit their relative’s graves and my sister and I will be the first descendants to visit Patrick’s grave.
“My son did go on a mission to find the grave for us a couple of years ago but we will be the first to visit it, technically.
“My sons all know about Patrick’s story and it’s really important to me that he is not forgotten.”
Aside from visiting their great-uncle’s grave, Jane and Mary will lay a wreath on behalf of the people of Tayside and Fife, having gained the support of Mr Duncan.
Jane added: “I asked the lord provost if I could present a wreath on behalf of Tayside and Fife on an unofficial basis. He was very supportive and said what we were doing was a great thing.
“A lot of people died in this battle from all over this area and I’d like to honour them.”
Mr Duncan said: “When we were approached by Jane and Mary we were more than happy to help.
“Over half of Dundee’s 4th Black Watch was killed or wounded on the first day of the Battle of Loos.
“The men who died cannot be forgotten. That is why it was important that Dundee marks this centenary.”