Pte 57434 Richard Macartney

• Age: 26
• From: Wallacetown, Ayr
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Richard Macartney (Birth and burial records point to the surname McCartney) was born in 1892 in Wallacetown, Ayr, and was the son of Richard Macartney and his wife Hannah (nee Lambie). His parents were both born in Ayr, married in 1891 and had at least nine children. Richard had younger siblings Janie Eadie (or Eddies), Thomas, Grace Lambie, Mary, and Elizabeth.  Two children, Agnes and John, died in infancy.  He appears to have had another sister Agnes, birthdate unknown, who died in 1946. 

He enlisted in Glasgow and originally served as Private 1135, Lowland Divisional Cycle Company, based on the amount of the War Gratuity, he enlisted in late 1915. He was transferred to the 11th Bn King’s Liverpool Regiment before shipping overseas. The 11th (Service) Battalion was part of Kitchener's New Army;  in January 1915 they converted into a Pioneer Battalion. 

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank.

29^th – At 3.30 a.m. heavy enemy bombardment opened, followed later (9.00 a.m.) by enemy attack and our line was forced back to G.H.Q.1 where I organised and held on to the position. The enemy got through on both flanks practically surrounding 2 of my companies. ‘A’ company was actually surrounded and after severe fighting were captured.

Richard's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

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