1915-06-14st

Sandy Selkirk, a member of Hamilton’s 91st regiment, was very proud of his unit, C Company. Selkirk was also very much in admiration of his fellow Hamiltonian Private Hugh Dunbar, also a 91^st Highlander, who had been killed at the front.

Coming across the following article on Dunbar in a Glasgow newspaper, he sent it to the Hamilton Spectator. In that newspaper’s June 14, 1915 edition, it was reprinted in Full :

“ Private Hugh Dunbar, 91^st Canadian Highlander, died on April 22, as a result of wounds received in action at Ypres.

“Along with his brother, Pte. Robert Dunbar, Pte. Hugh Dunbar took part in the glorious charge of the Canadian Scottish, when the Canadians recovered the guns left behind on the previous day when they were forced to retire as a result of the German use of asphyxiating gases.

“Both Dunbar brothers came through the great charge safely, but the following day, while at his post in the trenches, Pte. Hugh Dunbar was wounded by an exploding shell.

“He was being carried from the trench to the hospital by his brother and another comrade when, with the callousness and inhumanity which have characterized most of the enemy’s actions during the war, German snipers shot at and hit the helpless wounded soldier.

“His brother and his comrade succeeded in getting him into the hospital where, however, he died five hours later, watched over to the last by his brother Robert, who forwarded the sad news in a letter to his sisters who reside in Glasgow, last week.

“In a letter to his cousin, Miss Lily McKinley, Alisa street west, Private Robert Dunbar gives additional particulars regarding the fighting and his brother’s death. He writes:

“ ‘ We have had it pretty hard this while back. Hughie died of wounds on April 22. I did all I could for him, but I am proud of him all the same as he served his country.

“ ‘I will tell you how it happened. We were all in billets, having just come out of the trenches, and that night the Germans broke through the French lines, and we were given the  job to stop them and take the trenches they had captured.

“ ‘ So we had to run about three miles, and we were given the order to fix bayonets and charge. We took the trench and captured and killed the Germans.

“ ‘Hughie and I came through the charge all right, but the next day the Germans shelled the trench and Hughie and two of his pals  were hit by the same shell. They were all wounded, so it was up to me to get them out of the trench. I dressed two of them – one was hit on the wrist pretty bad – and Hugh and the other each had several shrapnel bullets in them.

“ ‘I dressed Hughie and was taking him over with the help of a soldier called Butler, when a German sniper shot at the wounded soldier, and poor Hughie only lived only lived through it five hours. He was shot in the stomach.

“ ‘The dirty curs. If they would fight fair, it would be all right, but the dirty devils, they can’t fight clean. They kill the wounded and use gas, which will kill you if you get a dose of it.

“ ‘You have to be very careful here. This is a terrible war – murder. I hope in God’s name it will come to a close soon. There are only five of Company C left; they have all been killed or wounded.’

“ Pte. Hugh Dunbas was a native of Girvan, and was 22 years old. He was a son of the late Robert Dunbar and Mrs. Dunbar., 2 Arran view, Girvan. He served his apprenticeship to the ironmongery trade with James Croside, Dalrymple street, Girvan, and after the death of his mother, he lived with his aunt, Mrs. McKinley, before emigrating to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada three years ago.

“With his brother Robert, he came over with the first Canadian contingent, and while that force was in training at Salisbury Plain before proceeding to the front, his brother and he twice paid a visit to relations in Glasgow and Girvan in November and at the New Year. He was a fine type of young man, and was well-liked by everyone that knew him. As a boy in Girvan, he was connected with the local company of the Boys’ Brigade, and when a trop of boy scouts was formed in Girvan, he also identified himself with that body

“Six years ago, he figured as one of the principals in a heroic incident.

“May 29, 1905, three local youths - William Crorkan, William McKnight, Hugh and David Sloan - went for a sail outside the harbor in a small row boat which capsized, and David Sloan was drowned. The other of whom Hugh is now a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery and has been at the front ince the beginning of the war – were gallantly rescued by three boy scouts, the late Pte. Dunbar, Colin McQueen and Angus McQueen. For his bravery, Pte. Dunbar, along with his two companions received from headquarters of the boy scouts in London, the award of a silver medal.

“The news of Pte. Dunbar’s death was received in Girvan and Glasgow with feelings of deep regret and on all hands expressions of sympathy have been made with sorrowing relations.’ ” ¹

¹ “Pte. Dunbar Did His Little Bit : Hamilton Highlander Was Splendid Type of Soldier”

Hamilton Spectator.   June 14, 1915.

Sandy Selkirk’s note which accompanied the article on Pte. Dunbar to the Spectator, added a personal note, saying cheerfully, “I had a close shave last night, but am still dodging them!”