In 1891, William J. Peddie (Physician & Surgeon), b. c1862, Edinburgh; and his wife, Janet M. Peddie, b. c1863, Victoria, Australia, were living at Duchess Street, Stanley, Perthshire.

By 1901 Harry’s father had died, and the family were living at 26 York Place, Perth: Mother, Janet M. (39); Daughter, Isobel G. (10); Son, Thomas (9); Son, William J. (8); Son, Harry McD. (7); Daughter, Dorothy (7); Son, Arthur Jas. (6); and Daughter, Laura F. (3). Also living at this address were: Elizabeth S. Forrest (Dressmaker) (23); and Agnes Brown Forrest (Nurse, Domestic) (20).

Harry Peddie enlisted in Buckie, whilst resident in Montrose, and at that time he was employed as an Accountant at the Buckie Branch of the Clydesdale Bank. Harry would have been mobilised around 22nd - 24th May 1916, and reported to No 2 Depot, Citadel, Plymouth. From there he was probably posted to 16 Company at Weymouth on or around 3rd June 1916. A month later he would have been posted to 177th Siege Battery on it’s formation.

This 4 x 6 ins. Howitzer Battery left England on 24th September 1916 and disembarked the next day. This means that he was only “in the field” for 16 days before he lost his life and at that time he was 22 years old.

Harry Peddie’s death was reported in the Dundee Courier of 16th November 1916 and the report stated that his mother was born in Australia. By the time he was killed both of Harry Peddies’s parents were dead and his Will was made out to: “my friend Miss Dorothy May Bruce, ‘Deemount’, Cliff Terrace, Buckie.” Dorothy Bruce’s Uncle Henry H. Smart was the harbourmaster at Buckie. Dorothy married in 1920, in Aberdeen, but died in 1922, in hospital in Banff.

Extract from War Diary of the 177th Siege Battery R.G.A.

"11th October 1916"

“177 Sge Bty 11/10/1916. Position Bienvillers. Time 10.15 a.m."

“A party was sent down to the billets when all seemed quiet to get rations and the office stationery boxes. Five were killed by one shell at the crossroads near the billet: Bdr Davies, A/Bdr Peddie, Gnrs Wood, Lockyer and Taylor and two others wounded."

“11/10/1916 cont… Time 3 p.m. The men who had been killed were buried in the cemetery by the Brickfield E7b. 50. 20. (Sheet 57D).”

Harry Peddie is also commemorated on the Buckie War Memorial; and the Clydesdale Bank War Memorial, Glasgow.