Bridge of Weir
Memorial

SGT ARCHD H FULTON 17^TH H.L.I.

2749 Sergeant Archibald Holms Fulton

17th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

died of wounds 19th November 1916

aged 21


Contay British Cemetery
Ranfurly Church Memorial, Bridge of Weir
Kilbarchan Cemetery

Walden, Bridge of Weir
Son of John Fulton and Jeanie Holms

His Life

Brothers Archibald and Hugh Fulton were both killed in World War I. Archibald was born on 28th August 1895 at 2 Raise Street, Saltcoats, Ayrshire, the third of a family of four born to John Fulton, of Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire and Jeanie Crawford Holms, from Glasgow, who had married in Glasgow on 25th December 1890.

In 1891 John (25) and Jeanie (23) were living in 6 Prince Edward Street, Govan, Glasgow. John was a mercantile cashier.

In 1901, the Fulton family, now of six, was in 206 Darnley Street, Pollokshields, Glasgow. John senior was a clerk with a railway company and the eldest three children including Archibald (5) were at school.

In 1911 the Fulton family of six lived in Walden, an 8-roomed semi-villa in Horsewood Road, Bridge of Weir. John senior was a house factor with the Railway Company. John and Archibald (15) were commercial clerks with a Foreign Merchant and Importer (the Bombay Finance department of William Graham & Co, Glasgow, in the case of Archie), Margaret was an apprentice milliner, and Hugh was still at school. Also living in the same 8-roomed house were John senior's brother Hugh, a head teacher and a widower, with his children John and Jean who were both at school. The domestic servant was Maggie Murdoch (18) from Girvan.

Archie volunteered in December 1914 and was enlisted in the 17^th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry, which had been raised by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce. Private Fulton first joined the theatre of war on 22nd November 1915 in France. The 17^th HLI formed part of 97^th Brigade, 32^nd Division. At some point he won promotion to Sergeant. The Division took part in the Battles of Albert and Bazentin on the Somme in July 1916 and the Battle of the Ancre between 13th and 18th November 1916. On 18th November 1916, generally accepted as the final day of the 4½ month Battle of the Somme, Archie was wounded in action at Beaumont-Hamel and died from his wounds the following day. He is buried in Contay British Cemetery, 8 miles north-east of Amiens in northern France. There were two Casualty Clearing Stations in Contay at the time. He was the first of two Fulton brothers to fall.

Siblings

Sources

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• Scottish National War Memorial
• Archibald Holms Fulton birth certificate. 28th August 1895. Regd. Saltcoats, Old Ardrossan, Ayrshire 7th Sept 1895.
• 1891 UK Census: Parish: Glasgow Govan; ED:39; Page:4; Line:1; Roll: CSSCT1891_296.
• 1901 UK Census: Parish: Glasgow Pollokshields; ED:31; Page:1; Line:11; Roll: CSSCT1901_319.
• 1911 UK Census: Parish: Kilbarchan. Ward: Bridge of Weir: Page 7. Lines 22-31: 559/0B 003/00 007.
• The Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry (Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Battalion) Record of War Service, 1914-1918. John W Arthur and Ion S Munro (eds). Glasgow, 1920. pp 51-53.
  • Beaumont-Hamel The attack which commenced at ten minutes past six on the morning on November 18th [1916] - a day of ice-covered slushiness - was held up owing to the insufficiency of the artillery barrage and the heavy enemy machine gun fire. At 7.42 a.m. the message came in to the Battalion from the right hand Company that the Company Commander was wounded and that a Sergeant and about ten men were holding the right flank. The jumping off trench known as New Munich Trench, was manned by the Battalion machine gunners with a view to concentrating some of the Companies in it back across "no man's land" to form a rallying point. At 8.30 a.m. the following message was received from 2nd Lieut. Macbeth of the right Company, "Am holding old front line with remainder of Battalion, and have established a bombing post on the right. There are only Lieut. Martin and myself in the trench." The left Company was also being hard pressed. It was reported by one of the Battalion officers that when the barrage opened a great number of shells fell just in front of New Munich Trench where the attacking companies were lying out, killing and wounding a large number of the Battalion. When the barrage lifted on to Munich Trench for the last four minutes, it was still short, and when the leading waves came up to about 50 or 60 yards from Munich Trench followed by the barrage, the Germans could be seen lying in the trench in force. When the barrage was on the Munich Trench, the enemy machine guns played on the attackers from both flanks all the time. The failure of the attack was due to the inefficiency of the British supporting barrage, together with the condition of the ground - thaw having set in and rain falling on the snow, making it exceedingly slippery - the targets the men formed against the snowy background, and the intense cold.
    Describing the attack one of the members of the Battalion writes:- "The preliminary bombardment opened with its awful messages of destruction, and the rapid reply of the enemy's artillery indicated ominously that our intentions were not unknown to him. When our barrage lifted, and the first wave of our men attempted to go forward, their dark forms showed up against the snow. They were met by machine gun fire, by rapid fire from the enemy trenches, and by snipers in skilfully chosen holes. Our bombardment had failed. It was impossible to get to close quarters with the enemy - hopeless to advance - dangerous to retire. Many of our men were killed in the attack, others in the attempt to carry in the wounded. Many remained all day in exposed positions, beside their wounded comrades, in hope of rescuing them when darkness fell. Beaumont Hanel will not be remembered by us as bearing any resemblance to the official descripton. We look back on it now, from the personal point of view, as a touchstone of the individual soul, as a prominent landmark in the vast monotony of death and horror - a chapter of inspiring deeds. It represents to us the heroism of a forlorn hope, the glory of unselfish sacrifice, the success of failure. 'Tis too easy to despond "while the tired waves" visibly gain no "painful inch," hard to believe that "far back through cracks and inlets making, comes silent, flooding in, the main."
    On the 19th the Battalion was relieved and returned to Mailly-Maillet where billets were taken over, and when the 17th rested and licked its wounds - well over 300 of "Glasgow's Own" had either been killed or wounded in that day's fighting.
• War Diary: 17^th Battalion Highland Light Infantry. Nov 1915 - Jan 1918. WO95/2403/3. National Archives.
  • Beaumont-Hamel 18 Nov 1916: Arrangements for artillery barrage and programme of artillery fire sent to Company Commanders early this morning. Snow commenced to fall in the early hours, later turning to rain. Cold intense. At 4.40 a.m. messages sent to Company Commanders that Zero time is 6.10 a.m.
    6.10 a.m. Attack commenced at 6.10 a.m. Held up owing to insufficency of our artillery barrage and heavy machine gun fire.
    7.42 a.m. Message from right company that Company Commander is wounded and that a Sergeant and about 10 men holding right flank. M.G. Officer attached reports that attack held up owing to enemy M.G. fire. Latter officer ordered to put both his guns in New Munich Trench.
    7.50 a.m. Message sent to B. Company to retire if possible from No Man's Land and re-occupy New Munich Trench. Messenger from right company reports that O.C. Company is killed and only one officer left, as far as he knows; that latter officer and a few men are lying out in front of New Munich Trench.
    8.10 a.m. Estimated casualties:- 2 captains; 10 subalterns; 330 other ranks.
    8.30 a.m. Following message received from 2nd Lieut. MACBETH of right company. "Am holding old front line with remainder of Battalion, and have established a bombing post on the right. There are only Lieut. MARTIN and myself in the trench." Enemy shelling ground in front of New Munich Trench now held by 2 officers and about 50 men. Unwounded men continuing to come in slowly from No Man's Land.
    9.18 a.m. H.Q. Officer, sent to reorganise, reports as follows:- "Line held by 4 Vickers guns; 3 Lewis guns, 2 officers and a little over 100 men; enemy still shelling slightly."
    10 a.m. Following message from Lieut. Dobson, commanding left centre Company:- "Am at present in shell hole with 5 unwounded and one badly wounded man. I am slightly hit and intend waiting here with a corporal till after dark, when we shall endeavour to bring in Private Bruce, badly wounded."
    10.35 a.m. Total number of officers, N.C.Os and men now in New Munich Trench - 101.
    11 a.m. Following unaccounted for:- 2nd Lieut R Stewart; F.R. Jones; R. Dewar; F.G. Steele; A.R. Murray; A.F. Roberts; T. Neilson, and C.J. Macewan and 340 other ranks. 2nd Lieut Martin reports as follows:- "When barrage opened, a great number of shells fell just in front of New Munich Trench where our Companies were lying out, killing and wounding a large number of men. When barrage lifted on to Munich Trench for last four minutes, it was still short and when the leading waves came up to about 50 or 60 yards from Munich Trench, following up the barrage, I saw the Germans lying [in] the trench in force. So near was I to the trench, that I opened fire with my revolver. When the barrage was on Munich Trench for the 4 minutes, the enemy's machine guns played on us from both flanks all the time. The failure of the attack was due, in my opinion to:-
    (1) The utter inefficiency of our barrage:
    (2) The condition of the ground, - thaw having set in and rain falling on the snow making it slippery:
    (3) The extreme cold which prevailed."
    2.45 p.m. Message sent that our guns are firing on New Munich trench and Leave Alley and asking to correct range immediately. Brigade informed that in the event of the enemy counter attacking, resistance could not be very prolonged.
    10.45 p.m. Casualty return:- Killed: Capt. J.S. MARR: 2nd Lieuts A.F. ROBERTS & C.J. MACEWAN. Died of Wounds: Capt J.F. MORRISON. Wounded: 2nd Lieuts J.W.M. PATERSON & R.STEWART. Slightly wounded (on duty): Lieut E.DOBSON and R.A. DRYSDALE. Unaccounted for: 2nd Lieuts F.R. JONES; R.DEWAR; F.C. STEELE; A.R. MURRAY; T. NEILSON. Killed, wounded & missing:- 300 other ranks.
    11.35 p.m. Situation report as follows:- "Artillery fire on both sides continues. Clearing of No Man's Land and evacuation of wounded continues."
  • 19 Nov 1916. 1 a.m. Relief commenced by 15th LANC FUS: Completed at 6 a.m. Battalion returned Mailly-Maillet and took over billets there. Remainder of day spent resting.
  • 20 Nov 1916. Today spent cleaning equipment & clothing and bathing. Final casualty returns:- Killed and missing - 63 O.R.; wounded 143 O.R. Officers: 9 killed, 2 wounded, 2 slightly wounded (on duty). Volunteer parties returned to trenches tonight to bring down wounded men of the 17th who had been left in a dug-out there, this dug-out having been used as an advanced aid post during the attack. Parties returned to Mailly at 6.15 a.m.
• William Graham & Co Glasgow 1784. Records of Partners, Staff and Operatives who participated in the Great War 1914-1919, 400 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, 30th November 1920
• Sergt. Archie Fulton. 17th Highland Light Infantry (Commercial Battalion). Sergt. Archie Fulton, Bombay Finance Department. Joined the Glasgow Commercial Battalion at the end of December 1914, and proceeded with the battalion to France in November, 1915. Severely wounded on 18th November, 1916, and died the following day.
• Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette
  • 2nd January 1915: Archibald Fulton: New recruit to HLI, Chamber of Commerce
  • 2nd December 1916: News has been received of the death of Sergeant Archibald Fulton HLI, who was wounded in action on 18th November and died from his wounds the following day. Sergeant Fulton, who was only 21 years of age, was a son of Mr John Fulton, Boxwood, Bridge of Weir. Another son of Mr Fulton is at present in hospital in England. Much sympathy is extended to the sorrowing relatives in their sore loss.
• Glasgow Herald
  o 1st December 1916: Died on 19th last, of wounds received in action on 18th, Sergeant Archie Fulton, H.L.I. aged 21, second son of Mr & Mrs John Fulton, Broxwood, Bridge of Weir.
• Kilbarchan Cemetery Monumental Inscription:
  o In memory of JOHN FULTON beloved husband of JEANIE HOLMS who died 20th March 1933 also his sons ARCHIE killed in France 19th Nov. 1916 HUGH killed in France 9th Oct. 1918 and daughter MARGARET HUNTER died 3rd April 1953 in Jersey C.I. also the above JEANIE HOLMS died 1st Oct. 1958. FULTON.
• Medals: Victory, British War, 1915 Star.

TO CITE THIS PAGE: MLA style: "Bridge of Weir Memorial". Date of viewing. http://www.bridgeofweirmemorial.co.uk/profile-fultonarchibald.html