URQUHART Alexander Inglis 2/Lt

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Surname: URQUHART;

Forename(s): Alexander Inglis;

Initials: AI;

Rank: 2/Lt;

Born in: Dumbarton;

Previous Number: 1314;

Previous Battalion: 9 of;

Previous Regiment: HLI;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: Unknown;

Other Data: Alexander More URQUHART (aka Alexander Inglis URQUHART)
born 26/3/1894 at 12 Victoria St, Alexandria, Dumbarton
son of Robert Urquhart, draper, and Mary Agnes Urquhart, nee Dickie (married 9/1/1894)
occupation: Warehouseman
joined 9 HLI on 1/3/1911 at Troon, served 5 years, including 8 m as Pte in France (No 1314)
5/8/1914 embodied service (Private)
Granted Proficiency Pay 5/8/1915. Wounded Richebourg, France 16/5/1915
7/8/1916 proceeded to 5 Officer Trg Bn, Trinity College, Cambridge.
29/8/1916 granted bounty of £15 AO209/1916
18/12/1916 appointed to commission. (Cert of character from Town Clerk of Glasgow)
Served: Home 5/8/1914 to 3/11/1914
BEF 4/11/1914 to 18/5/1915
Home 19/5/1915 to 18/12/1916
later No: 330054

Medical Board 9/6/1917 Brighton Grove Mil Hosp.
Disability: syphilis and gonorrhoea - admitted 31/3/1917 suffering from S & G for which he has received treatment. His Wasserman test is negative. It is not necessary or advisable that this officer should appear before this board on any subsequent occasion. He has been instructed to proceed to AD & S group, MG training Centre, Grantham.
Fit for service?: No Fit for Home Service?: No, but fir for light duty at home.

10/7/1917 proceedings of medical board, Mil Hosp, Grantham
Not fit for marching to continue duty with unit

16/10/1917 proceedings of medical board, Command Depot, Alnwick
...."there is marked swelling of the right testicle with redness and tenderness on pressure. There has been an acute exacerbation of condition during past week. Ordered to return to present duty pending further instructions."

17/12/1917 medical board, Command Depot, Alnwick.
Contracted S & G in Feb 1917. Was sent to Brighton Grove hospital and remained there until 15/6/1917. Returned to duty at Grantham and in a fortnights time noticed that right testicle was swollen and tender. Received treatment and carried on with his duties.

Applies for Commission Indian Army
Letter from GOC MGTC 1/ 2/1918 to War Office asking for recommendation for permanent commission in Indian Army be withdrawn in view of his confinement to hospital suffering from VD.
11/2/1918 Letter from U/Sec of State for India at India Office "application will not be considered"

10/4/1918 Application for Trial bt General Court Martial by Col. Cdg MG School Grp, Grantham, of Urquhart, on charge of "absence without leave" "This officer was only discharged from Brighton Grove Hospital on 25 March after treatment for VD from 5th January and that he was previously treated for the same disease between 1/4/1917 and 15/6/1917 - an aggregate of nearly 5 months. Under WO111/General No 135(MS1) cases of this kind are to be brought to the notice of War Office with a view to the Officer's retention in service being considered.

18/4/1918 Northern Command write that arrangements in progress for Court Martial. Absent from 3rd to 7th April 1918 inclusive, from Belton Camp.
Plea: Guilty
Sentence: to be severely reprimanded
Further Charges brought:
1) at Harrowby Camp on 29/3/1918 stole one pair of khaki trousers and one silver cigarette case property of 2/Lt EO Webb, MGC
2)alternative charge, on 6/5/1918, in possession of the above, knowing them to have been stolen.
3) at Harrowby Camp between 13/4/1918 and 5/5/1918 stole a Browning auto pistol and a sleeping suit, property of Capt JW Clapham, 5 W Riding Regt att MGC
4) alternative charge: on 6/5/1918 in possession etc.
5)on or about 28/4/1918 stole one pair of riding breeches and a prismatic compass property of Lt CW Sanger MGC
6) alternative charge: on 6/5/1918 in possession etc.
7)on 30/4/1918 stole one prismatic compass, one vest pocket Kodak camera property of Lt AM Dunant Ox & Bucks LI, attd MGC
8) alternative charge: on 6/5/1918 in possession etc
9) between 26/4/1918 and 30/4/1918 stole one Webley revolver in holster and one pair of German field glasses property of Capt DC Campbell, Black Watch, attd MGC
10) alternative charge: on 6/5/1918 in possession etc.

Findings: Guilty of 1.3.5.7 and 9th charges, Not Guilty of 2,4,6,8 & 10th charges
Sentence: to be cashiered
submitted to HM the King 11/6/1918 - sentence to be carried out.

Will: dated 21/7/1915, Rouen France,. "E" Coy, Glasgow Highlanders, 5 Bde, 2 Div, 1 Army Corps
property to father: Robert Urquhart, 134 Stanmore Rd, Mount Florida, Glasgow.

WO339/112648

CHARGED WITH THEFTS. PLEA OF IRRESPONSIBILITY THROUGH DRINK. At a court-martial at
an East Midland camp yesterday, Sec.-Lieut. A. I. Urquhart, M.G.C.. was charged on live counts
with stealing a number of articles including trousers, revolvers, prismatic compasses, and field
glasses the property of brother officers. He was alternately charged with receiving, by being in
possession of the articles well knowing them to have been stolen. He pleaded not guilty. The property
was missed by the officers, and on the 2nd inst. prisoner placed a suitcase for storage with a firm of
military equipment dealers. The case was examined the A.P.M.. who found that it contained the whole
the missing property mentioned in the various charges, except the trousers, and were found under the
pillow of accused's bed. Accused handed in a written statement, which elected to swear to an oath. In
this he said that the offences were committed by him. they were done when under the influence of
drink. In May. 1916. he was in hospital for six months with a bullet wound in the face, and when he
was discharged his nerves were badly affected. That started him to drink heavily, and as time went on
drink got such hold of him that he was unable to stop it and it became a vice. About March 27 last he
was drinking heavily, and he was afraid he was not responsible for any of his actions at that period.
He did not want any the articles, for he had all the kit an officer required, and he was in a good
financial position. When he realised what he had done, not knowing where the articles came from, he
became afraid of the consequences, and his first thoughts were to get rid of them somehow. Seeing
the equipment dealer's waggon outside his hut, it flashed across his mind to give the suitcase
containing the articles to the man and ask him store it. The decision of the Court will be promulgated.
(Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer 29/5/1918);

END OF RECORD.

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