Graves of two Glasgow soldiers identified in Belgium

The graves of two World War One soldiers, Private (Pte) Peter Keill, aged 20, of 7th Battalion The Seaforth Highlanders and Second Lieutenant (2nd Lt) James Ferris, aged 29, of 16th Battalion The Highland Light Infantry, have finally been marked more than a century after their deaths. 

The rededication services, organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), were held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Dadizeele New British Cemetery, on 25 October 2023 and Tyne Cot Cemetery, on 26 October 2023.

JCCC Caseworker, Rosie Barron said: “It has been a privilege to work with The Royal Regiment of Scotland to organise the rededication service for Pte Keill and to have his niece present. Pte Keill was a young man who made the ulitmate sacrifice for his country. He is still fondly remembered by his family and this service marked the end of their quest to establish what happened to him.”

Pte Peter Keill

Private Peter Keill (Courtesy of the Keill family).

Private Peter Keill was born on 20 May 1898 in Govan, Glasgow. He was one of 10 children born to Robert Keill and his wife Mary. Peter enlisted into The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He later transferred to 5th Battalion The Seaforth Higlanders before transferring to 7th Battalion.

By October 1918 the static fighting associated with the Western Front, which had kept the British Army in Belgium within the Ypres Salient since 1914, had lifted, and Allied forces were advancing. On 1 October 1918, 7th Battalion The Seaforth Highlanders were in assembly positions in front of the village of Slypskapelle. After a brief barrage, they attacked at 6.15am and reached their first objective, the Menin to Roulers railway line north of Ledeghem.

After further fighting they consolidated in positions along the railway line. The battalion had suffered casualties of 23 killed in action or died of wounds, four missing and 73 wounded. Pte Peter Keill was among these casualties. The location of Pte Keill’s grave was lost and as he was missing, he was commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Mary Lloyd-Jones with members of 2 Scots at Dadizeele New British Cemetery (Crown Copyright).

Pte Keill’s niece, Mary Lloyd-Jones was in attenance at the service and said: “My mother always talked about her brother Peter, even though she was born two months after his death he was always part of her life and he has been part of mine too. We're so pleased to see his final resting place recognised, and it's been an honour for me to be here to see that happen today with my daughter Sian and my sister in law Margaret representing Peter's wider family. We're so grateful to Rosie from JCCC and Catherine from CWGC for making this happen.”

2nd Lt James Ferris

Second Lieutenant James Ferris (Courtesy of Ferris family).

2nd Lt James Ferris was born on 12 October 1888 in Glasgow to William John Ferris, a grain storeman, and his wife Euphemia. James was the fifth of six children, having two older brothers, two older sisters, and one younger brother.

Little survives of his military service record, but we know that he joined up on 11th September 1914. The war diaries show us that he joined the 16th Battalion The Highland Light Infantry from the 3rd Battalion The Highland Light Infantry (a training battalion) on 27 May 1917.

At the time of his death, Ferris and his unit were undertaking an action to drive the enemy from the Passchendaele Ridge. Being attached to the 97th Trench Mortar Battery, he and several others were operating from a pill box towards the rear of the line. The pill box is recorded as having taken a direct shell hit at around 4.15pm on 2 December 1917, killing Ferris, another officer and seven men of the other ranks.

Because the land where Ferris died continued to be fought over his body wasn’t recovered until 1920, at which time he was identified only as a 2nd Lieutenant of the 16th Battalion from the insignia found on the casualty’s uniform but there were no other artefacts to indicate his name. He was buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery as an Unknown British Officer.

Research has now revealed that Ferris was that unknown British Officer, and his grave has been rededicated with a new headstone marking his final resting place.

Ewan Ferris, great-nephew of 2ndLt Ferris, with members of 2 Scots (Crown copyright).

James Ferris’ great-nephew, Ewan, who attended the service said: “Although I never knew Uncle James I know that he was an upstanding man: he had a good job and was a Captain in the Boys Brigade – presumably this led him to join a regiment with direct ties to the Boys Brigade in his home town of Glasgow. I am pleased that we are now able to mark his final resting place and honour his memory.”

JCCC Caseworker, Alexia Clark said: “I am grateful to the researcher who submitted this case. Their work has led us to recognise the final resting place of James Ferris and restore his name to him. It has been a privilege for me to have contributed to this case and to have organised the service for the rededication of his grave today.”

The services were conducted by the Reverend (Captain) David Jeal, Chaplain to 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland and were attended by serving soldiers of the battalion.

The Reverend Jeal said: “It was a great honour and immensely important for us to remember and rededicate the graves of 2nd Lt Ferris and Pte Keill, and to give them a place to rest where their names are written and recorded, so that they may be honoured by this generation and all who follow. We owe so much to their selfless sacrifice for our freedom.”

The headstones over both graves were replaced by CWGC who will care for them in perpetuity.

Geert Bekaert, Commonwealth War Graves Commission Area Director said: "It is a privilege to now care for the graves of Private Peter Keill and Second Lieutenant James Ferris. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is dedicated to ensuring that these servicemen, who made the ultimate sacrifice, are remembered with the dignity and respect they deserve. Their sacrifice will continue to be honoured by future generations as their names are eternally recorded on their headstones."