Bridge of Weir
Memorial

2^ND L^T HUGH FULTON 9^TH H.L.I.

Second Lieutenant Hugh Fulton

9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

killed in action 9th October 1918

aged 20


Loos British Cemetery
Ranfurly Church Memorial, Bridge of Weir
High School of Glasgow Memorial
Kilbarchan Cemetery

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

His Life

Brothers Hugh and Archibald Fulton were both killed in World War I. Hugh was born on 20th May 1898 at 2 Raise Street, Saltcoats, Ayrshire, the son of 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 were at school. Hugh was 2 years old.

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 were commercial clerks with a Foreign Merchant and Importer, Margaret was an apprentice milliner, and Hugh (12) 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.

Hugh volunteered for active service in September 1915 at the age of 17, by which time the family had moved within the village to Broxwood. He was enlisted as a Private into the 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. Private Fulton first joined the theatre of war on 15th April 1916 in France, still 17 years old. He must have concealed his true age, because the legal minimum age for overseas service was 19, but this was not uncommon. An estimated 250,000 underage soldiers from Britain fought in the war. On 29th May 1916, the 9th HLI formed part of 100th Brigade, 33rd Division. As part of the 33rd Division, Hugh would have fought through the Battle of the Somme in 1916, the Battle of Arras in 1917 and later that same year Third Ypres (Passchendaele). He received his commission on 29th January 1918.

Hugh was killed in action on 9th October 1918, when he was attached to the 18th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) which formed part of the 48th Brigade, 16th Division, little more than a month before the end of the war. The Division had arrived in France in July 1918 and was engaged in the Final Advance in Artois. Hugh had been sent out on a daylight patrol following false information from a prisoner that the enemy were retiring. Hugh and two of his comrades were killed by machine gun fire. Initially, his parents had been advised that he was missing, and later as wounded and taken prisoner. His death must have been confirmed at a later date. He was the second of two Fulton brothers to fall. After 2½ years' fighting in France, he was still only 20 years old when he was killed.

Siblings

Sources

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• Scottish National War Memorial
• Hugh Fulton birth certificate 20th May 1898, Regd. Saltcoats, Old Ardrossan, Ayrshire 4th June 1898.
• 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.
• Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette
  • 11th September 1915: Enlisted Hugh Fulton, Boxwood 9th HLI
  • 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.
  • 22nd November 1918: Mr Hugh Fulton, Boxwood, has received information that his son, Second Lieutenant Hugh Fulton RAF, previously reported missing is wounded and a prisoner.
• War Diaries: 18th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). WO95/1975.
  • 8th October: FORWARD POSTS: Forward area heavily shelled.
  • 9th October: Acting on a prisoner's statement that the enemy were retiring, No. 3 Coy. Sent out a daylight patrol on BILLY BERCEAU- CANAL ROAD. Patrol met with heavy hostile M.G. fire during which 2/Lt. FULTON, C.S.M. WILLIAMS and 1 O.R. were killed. The Batt. was relieved by 14th Leicesters by 23.00. Heavy hostile shelling during relief. Coys .proceeded by motor lorry from HAISNES to ANNEQUIN VILLAGE with Batt. H.Q. in FOSSE.
• 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.

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