Cpl 57527 William Doig

• Age: 21
• From: Newport-on-Tay, Fife
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 28th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

William Doig was born in 1897 and resided in Newport-On-Tay, Fife, he was the son of John Lyall Doig, of 10 Bright Street, Lochee, Dundee, and Harriette Louise Doig (nee Moore) who had married on the 08th February 1893 by special licence at the Balmoral Hotel, Belfast. He had a sister Elsie, who died in 1912 at the age of 18 ("Elsie" was how it was reported in the Dundee Courier on the 10th June 1912, however census and death record is for Elizabeth), and a brother John Moore.

On the 1901 census the family are living at Struan Place, Newport, Fife. His father, John Lyall Doig, is aged 36 is a druggist and chemist who was born in Dundee, and his mother, Harriette Louise is aged 38 was born in Ireland and has no occupation listed. They have five children all born Newport -On-Tay,  Elizabeth 7, Dorothy 6, William 4, John M. 2, Harriette L. aged 2 months. They also have a servant Louisa C. Smith aged 19 living at the address.

William enlisted in Dundee and served originally as 856, of the Highland Divisional Cyclist Company. The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he served for 28 months, enlisting in October or November 1915. He was transferred at some point to the 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment with the regimental number 57527, achieving the rank of Corporal.  He was transferred again, to the 18th Battalion K.L.R., most likely in February 1918 when the 20th Battalion was disbanded. He served in 2 Company, 8th Platoon.

He was killed in action on the 28^th March 1918, aged 21, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion Diary gives an insight into the chaotic events of the day

28^th March

At about 6am the enemy commenced to shell heavily the whole of the forward line and brought Trench Mortars and MACHINE Guns into action.

FOLIES was shelled and the area in the rear of the village as far back as LE QUESNEL.

Rations were received at dawn and parties were organised to carry them to the Companies on the right. Owing to the heavy fire, however, it was not possible to get them up.

Heavy fighting was in progress on the right from soon after dawn and at 8am the enemy was reported to be in possession of BOUCHOIR and progressing towards the BEETROOT FACTORY. About 10am  the 59^th Infy Brigade was notified that it was relieved by the French and the Battalions of that Brigade were at once withdrawn in the direction of LE QUESNEL.

At noon the enemy was bombarding the village and vicinity heavily and reports were received that he was in occupation of WARVILLERS on the left and ARVILLERS on the right.

The front line East of FOLIES continued to resist until about 2pm when the order was received from the 89^th Infy Brigade to the effect that the Battalions were relieved by the French and would withdraw at once to MEZIERES, where the men would be fed. Companies withdrew under some shelling and very heavy M.G. and rifle fire from the left , through K10 -K3 – North side LE QUESNEL to the main ROYE road and reorganised about D.29 c. The march from this point was conducted in good order despite the congested roads.

At MEZIERES it was decided to continue a rearward movement and the march was resumed via VILLERS-MOREUIL – MORISEL – ROUVREL, which village was reached about 7pm and the Battalion billeted. The men had marched 13 miles from the left position in good order and with practically no straggling. They were exhausted on arrival at ROUVREL, but in good heart.

Echelon ‘A’ of the Transport joined the Battalion at this village and the men were fed immediately on arrival. The night passed without incident.  

William was initially declared Missing between 21-28 March 1918. His father, living at 9 High Street, Dundee, contacted the International Red Cross, stating that he had last heard from his son on 19th March, from France, but was notified on 25th May 1918 that they held no information on William.

His death was later presumed, for official purposes, as having occurred on 28th March 1918. 

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

An appeal for information on William was placed in the Dundee Courier on 04th January 1919:

18TH KING'S LIVERPOOL REGIMENT - Corpl. WILLIAM DOIG, 57527, reported "Missing", West of St.Quentin, March 22nd, 1918. Any Information regarding him will be gratefully received by JOHN L. DOIG, 9 High Street. Dundee.

Notification of his death was reported in the Dundee Courier on 09th September 1919:

Mr John L. Doig, Marrbank, Newport, has received intimation from the War Office that his son, Cpl William Doig, 18th King’s Liverpool Regiment, is now presumed to have died or been killed on or about March 22, 1918, the date on which he was previously reported missing.  Cpl Doig enlisted in December, 1915, and was sent out to France in December, 1916.  Before enlisting he was employed in the office of Messrs Henry Boase & Co., Wellfield Works, Dundee.  He was 21 years of age. [Boase & Co. were Jute Millers]

His father received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £14. A pension card has not been found.

His mother died in 1920 aged 61 and her son John died in 1924 aged 26,both in Forgan, Fife  and his father died  in 1938 aged 73, in Perth.

William is also remembered on the family gravestone in Dundee Eastern Cemetery.

He is also remembered on the Newport-on-Tay War Memorial, Tay Street, at the side of the road on the seafront, Newport-on-Tay, North East Fife, Fife.

We currently have no further information on William Doig, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.