William McIntosh was born in Dundee on the 24th March 1885, the eldest son of Alexander McIntosh and his wife Isabella (nee Suttie) McIntosh who were married in 1884. His father was born in about 1857 in Ardclach, Nairnshire, 20 miles east of Inverness (Highlands), and his mother in Kinnettles, 12 miles north of Dundee, in about 1863. Four children are found on censuses: William, Robert Suttie 1888, Elizabeth Hunter Watt 1890, and Ronald 1895, all born in Dundee. 

 

The Dundee City Directory of 1886-87 lists Alexander M’Intosh, gardener, Kincraig Lodge, Ferry Road, B.F. (Broughty Ferry).

 

 

The 1901 census finds them at Greystone Lodge, Liff/Benvie, about 5 miles west of Dundee.  His father, 43, is a domestic gardener, his mother is 37.  William, 16, is an apprentice clerk (jute), Robert is 13, Elizabeth 10, and Ronald is 5.

 

The 1911 Scotland Census is only available by subscription so further family details are not known yet.

He enlisted in Dundee and originally served as Private 832  in the Army Cyclist Corps.

 

Following a transfer he was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57513 when he was killed in action on the 09th April 1917 during the Battle of Arras.

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded. 

William left a widow Alice.  Later records show that she lived in Blindloch, a district of Arbroath.  The pension card lists no minor children.