Pte 57541 Duncan John Irvine

• Age: 28
• From: Kincardine, Perth
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 2nd August 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Duncan John Irvine was born in Perth General Prison where his father was a warder on the 27^th December 1888. He was the son of Duncan Irvine and his wife Euphemia (nee Malloch). His parents married in 1870.

On the 1891 Census he is aged 2 born in Perth, living at H.M. General Prison, Edinburgh Road, Perth. His father Duncan, is aged 45 and employed as a 1st Class Warder, Scotch Prison Service born in Methven, whilst his mother Euphemia is aged 45 and also born in Methven. His siblings all born in Perth are listed as; Janet 14, James 12 message boy at conservative club, Ann 9 scholar, Daniel 8 scholar, William Alexander 6 scholar , Isabella 4, grandmother Margaret Malloch 73.

On the 1901 Census he is aged 12 a scholar, still living at H.M. General Prison, Perth. Father Duncan 55 1st Class Warder, mother Euphemia 55, siblings Margaret 25, Ann 19 mantle maker machinist, Daniel 18 GPO letter sorter, William 16 apprentice loco engineer, Isabella 14 learner dressmaker.

He was educated at Craigie Public School and prior to the war was employed as a paper ruler with Messrs: A.B. Duncan of Dundee. 

He enlisted in May 1916 at Dundee and originally served as Private 907, of the Army Cyclist Corps. Following a transfer he was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57541 when he was killed in action on the 02nd August 1917, aged 28, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

The 20th Battalion diary gives details of the circumstances that the Battalion found themselves in during the early phases of the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). Having taken part in the initial fighting of 31st July 1917 there is a general write up in relation to the period 01st -08th August and specifics solely from the 03rd August. As such it is impossible to say exactly how each of the men who fell on 01st or 2nd August met their death.

20^th Battalion Diary 01^st August – 08^th August

The Battalion continued to hold the position taken up on the morning of 31^st July. After the first day the weather was very wet and the going very difficult, but the men’s spirits remained wonderfully good. From time to time there was very heavy enemy shelling and in addition to this machine guns and snipers were very active. The work of communication was extremely difficult and the wires to Companies and to Battalions on our flanks were repeatedly cut and were only kept going by most excellent work by our linesmen, who suffered very heavy casualties as also did the runners. 

His death was reported in the Perthshire Advertiser on 15th August 1917 under the header:

PERTH MEMBER OF THE KING'S LIVERPOOL KILLED

Private Duncan J. Irvine

Mr Duncan Irvine, interim officer at Perth Sheriff Court, and Mrs Irvine, of Rosebank, Scone, have received the sad tidings of the death of their second son, Private Duncan J. Irvine, who went to France in November 1916. This is the second blow which the war has inflicted upon Mr and Mrs Irvine, who lost their son Daniel in the course of the Dardanelles campaign. The latest victim Duncan, was originally in the Highland Cyclists, but had been for a considerable time fighting in France with the fine King's Liverpool Regiment. The news to hand is contained in a letter from the soldier's company commander who, in touchingly sympathetic letter, couched in terms that form a tribute to deceased's excellent soldierly qualities, states that Duncan fell on July 31st. The commander writes:- "He behaved splendidly in the attack, assisting in its success, but was unfortunately killed by a shell while holding the ground gained. It may be some slight consolation to you to know that he was killed instantaneously, and suffered no pain. He was willing, conscientious, and cheerful, and we are all sorry to have lost him. May I assure you of the deepest sympathy of myself and the surviving officers of the company with you in your bereavement." Private Duncan Irvine was 28, he served his apprenticeship as a paper-ruler with Mr John McGregor, Mill Street, Perth, after which he went to Whitehaven. He was thereafter in Dundee and enlisted in May 1916. The other brother referred to was attached to the Royal Engineers, and in civilian life was a post office official, and for a time had been engaged at Blairgowrie.

His brother referred to in the report above was Sapper 3147 Daniel Irvine of the 52nd Lowland Div. Signal Coy., R.E, died on 03rd November 1915, aged 32.

He now rests at Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"LOVED SON OF DUNCAN AND EUPHEMIA IRVINE NATIVE OF PERTH, SCOTLAND"

Duncan John's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Probate was granted at Perth on 15th September 1917 

Duncan John is commemorated on the Dundee Roll of Honour.

His father died in 1922 aged 76.

His mother died in 1930 aged 84.

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