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Sgt. William Cochrane
British Army 5th Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
from:188 Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh
(d.17 July 1916)
William Cochrane was born on 14 August 1893, the fourth of six children of George and Helen Cochrane. The family lived at a number of addresses in Edinburgh's southside during William's early years but eventually settled at 188 Dalkeith Road around 1907. Upon leaving school, William followed his father, sister Agnes and older brothers John and George into the printing trade. Younger brothers David and Edward would later follow suit. Following a lengthy apprenticeship, William became a stereotyper, producing stereotype plates for use in the printing process.
He was 21 years old and unmarried when he enlisted in Edinburgh on 7 September 1914, shortly after the outbreak of war. He was assigned to the 5th Battalion, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders and deployed to France in 1915, landing at Boulogne on 10 May, followed by his brother David (6th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders) on 9 July 1915.
The 5th Battalion formed part of the 26th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division, known coloquially as the Jocks and Springboks, after the 1st South African Infantry Brigade joined the Division in 1916. The Division was engaged in major fighting on the Western Front, including The Battle of Loos (in which the 5th Camerons suffered horrific casualties), The Battle of Albert and The Battle of Bazentin Ridge. William attained the rank of Sergeant. He was killed in action on 17 July 1916, when the 9th Division engaged German forces in Delville Wood, adjacent to the village of Longueval. He has no known grave, but is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier 15, Face B. Brother David was hospitalised after sustaining gunshot wounds in July 1917 but following treatment at St Omer, Etapes and Boulogne, he rejoined his battalion in December the same year. He eventually returned home safely to Edinburgh in January 1919. His first child, born in 1929, was named William in honour of his brother.
