The postcard above (printed in Pangbourne, Berkshire) has the inscription on the front: “Some of the Bhoys” “Shaving Salon”, and was posted on 25th July 1915, from Tom Moncrieff to his oldest brother John. On the back of the postcard is the message: “Just a pc to let you know how I am getting along & that general leave started last week and that I am expecting to be home next week if all goes well."

"There is some word of us going over the water on the 14th or 16th of August & not before time as it has never stopped raining for fully two weeks & the tents are floating in the water. "Your brother Tom.”

The photographs below show Tom Moncrieff's family attending a remembrance ceremony at Perth Academy on the centenary of his death. Tom and his family had farmed at Tofthill Farm near Perth and many of his descendants are still farmers in Perthshire, Angus, Fife and East Lothian.

As students from the school would be visiting Tom on the upcoming school trip they brought a small container of soil from Tofthill and asked if we could sprinkle it beside Tom's grave. The collage of photos shows students and staff from the school at Tom's final resting in place at Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery near Ypres in Belgium.

In 1891, the Moncrieff family were living at Burnside, Craigie, Perth, and the father, John Moncrieff, was a Cattle Dealer.

In 1901, they were living at Tofthill Farm House, Kinfauns, Perthshire. Father, John (Farmer), b. 1850, Perth; Mother Harriot, b. 1850, Perth; and their children: John (22); Lucy (18); Harriot (16); Thomas (15); William (13); Robina (9); and Robert (6). There were also four ploughmen living at the same address: Richard Wilkie, Alexander Murrie, Thomas Cowper and David Gardiner.

Tom Moncrieff served with the MT Company of the 21st Division, many elements of which arrived in Le Havre from Southampton between 9th and 12th September 1915. Tom disembarked in France on 10th September 1915.

From about 19th April 1918 Tom was almost certainly working at, or near, Wippenhoek (Abele) railhead, either loading ammunition and supplies, or driving his lorry to or from the railhead. He would have been wounded during this period.

Extract from the War Diary of the 21st Division Motor Transport Company

“25th April [1918]: The enemy attacked MONT KEMMEL today & instructions have been received from S.M.T.O. [Senior Motor Transport Officer] that whilst open warfare is in progress M.T. Company’s will deal direct with the C.R.A.’s [Commanders Royal Artillery] of their divisions as regards the supply of ammunition. Sixteen lorries have been loaded, 12 with A.A.X. [High Explosive 18 ponder Anti Aircraft shells] & 4 with B.X. [High Explosive 4.5 inch Howitzer shells] these stand loaded and C.R.A. notifies me that he requires this ammunition is dumped & lorries reload at a railhead (notified by Corps Q. (Ammunition) daily) immediately and return to park loaded. I have been looking for a new lorry park further back but sites are very difficult to find."

“26th April [1918]: Railhead today RENINGHELST supplied for their three Brigades loaded by H.T. [Horse Transport] for Divisional Troops by M.T. [Motor Transport]. Thirty four lorry loads of ammunition loaded from PACIFIC SIDING & dumped for 21st Div. Artillery. PTE. MONCREIFF (sic) wounded & admitted to hospital yesterday.”

There was a Divisional Rest Station accepting casualties at Wippenhoek, and the wounded were then sent by light railway direct to the Casualty Clearing Stations at Bandaghem. Tom would have been treated here, but he died of his wounds on 26th April. He was 32 years old.

Perthshire Advertiser, 11th May 1918

“OUR OWN MEN - PERTH CITY"

“The death is announced from wounds received in action of Private Thos. Fletcher Moncrieff, Army Service Corps, third son of the late Mr John Moncrieff, Tofthill, Glencarse. Private Moncrieff, in civil life, was in the office of Messrs. Hay and Co., Ltd., Livestock Auctioneers, Perth.”

Thomas Moncrieff is also commemorated on Kinfauns Parish War Memorial.