The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 10/05/1915 and were Divisional Troops, 9th (Scottish) Division. The joined December 1914 and became Divisional Pioneer Battalion early 1915. Hugh arrived in France on the 12/08/1915. Hugh was shot in the head as he assisted stretcher bearers retrieve a severely wounded Officer. From a letter to his parents from Captain H.C.B. Cummins Commanding "C" Company : "Dear Mrs Cowan, - I`m afraid I have very sad news to tell you. Your son, No. 10407, Private H. Cowan was killed last night. We were working on a communication trench just behind the front line trenches, when there was a sudden burst of rifle fire, which severely wounded one of our Officers and a Lance Corporal. Your son was assisting stretcher bearers to get the Officer down in the trench when he was hit in the head by a bullet and killed instantly" (see Newspaper clipping for the full letter sent). SEE PHOTOS x 6 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FEBRUARY - MARCH 1916. Hugh sent 2 cheery postcards home 2 weeks before he fell. Hugh was formerly with the Reserve Cavalry (Dragoons Service Number 8409). He is listed as 8th BATTALION on the Coatbridge Memorial. Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. He is also remembered on the East United Free Church and Stewarts and Lloyds Rolls of Honour and at the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery (see photos). See photos for Hugh's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, Tancrez Farm Cemetery, the Seaforth Highlanders Cap Badge, Hugh's Pension Records x 3, his name on the Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, a photo of Hugh's parents and one of his sister Elizabeth. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 4 (Coatbridge Express x 2 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 2), PHOTOS x 9 FOR THE 9th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK JANUARY - MARCH 1916 and the 9th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division he was with when he died).
