John Brown Baldie
Pt. John Brown Baldie 6th Black Watch was born on 4th November 1890, to William and Jane Brown Bald
ie who were living in Pitlochry, Perthshire at that time. His father William, in 1881, aged 23 worked on the Cadzow Farm, Scone, as a farm servant.
By 1901 the census show William as head of the family, working as an Estate Labourer and living in in Maidenwells Cottage with Jane and their 4 children, William( 12 years), John( 10 years, our Private), Janet( 5 years) and James (2 months). The relatives of John Baldie, told us there was another son David, born after the census. Also living in 1901 with the family, were Mary’s 14 year old sister Kate, together with two boarders, James Cameron (28years) and John Millar (19years), both working as wood carters, as well as Isobel Brown, mother-in-law (72 years), and a visitor, Elsie Cameron (33years) who was known to be a Domestic servant. John and his siblings were educated at Scone Public School.
Maidenwells Cottage 2015
When John married Mary Aucherlonie, Mary’s parents lived at Dunkeld Road, Bankford. It does appear that they may have stayed with Mary’s parents for a little while and they had two daughters Maisie and Jane. It is recorded Jane was born at Dunkeld Rd. Bankford. When John enlisted, he and Mary were living in the Main Street, Bankfoot . Perthshire
Pte. John Brown Baldie. Service number 2819, worked as a ploughman until his enlistment with the 6th Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in January 1915. After initial training, information suggests his formation became 153rd Brigade of the 51st Division. He was mobilised for war and landed in Boulogne in May 1915. By this date, the use of poison gas (chlorine) had been introduced on the battlefields by the Germans. Britain was engaged in a number of offensives, including the Battle of Festubert, the second action of Givenchy and the Battle of Auber Ridge. British Auber Ridge tactics involved a flat area with existing drainage trenches. The German front line was 100 and 500 yards from the British Troops. Behind the Germans, the land inclined up to Auber Ridge, which then sloped down towards Lille. Pte. 
John Brown Baldie would have been engaged in this, or similar offensives on the Western Front. While our research shows no direct evidence that he took part in the Amber Ridge battle, the dates link him and his brigade to that area. On September 25th 1915 whilst on sentry duty at an advance post, he was caught by an enemy sniper and instantly killed
1915 proved to be the most murderous year of the whole war. It was a year of the great offensives, all designed to achieve a breakthrough –the Loos and Champagne, Artois, Argonne and the Vosges all failed.
Pte John Brown Baldie was entitled to the Victory Medal and the 1914-1915 star clasp, which would have had the date 1914-1915 scrolled in the centre. The Victory Medal was also known as the In-Allied Victory Medal and is a campaign medal.
Pte John Brown Baldie is buried in Authuille British Cemetery,. The Commonwealth Grave Commission is responsible for the upkeep of all WW1 cemeteries. Details of Commonwealth war dead, are recorded usually in remembrance books located on site, so the graves or memorials can be found. Authuille is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie, in northern France.
Pte John Brown Baldie was survived by his wife Mary and their two daughters, Maisie and 6month old Jane. In later years, Mary lived in Store Street, Stanley where Jane’s son remembers staying with his Grandmother during the school holidays.
All references are on our website Sconeremembers.org.uk. John Brown Baldies relatives still live in Scone. We would like to thank them for their help in collating this article. Scone Remembers are interested in contacting other families with links to the service personnel on our war memorial, if you can help please telephone Dr Olsen 01738 552032. — March 2015
April Update
The family as updated the story and tells of an older brother called Douglas who was knows as Dougie.
References: Ancestry.co.uk. GWGC. Forces War Records. Family Information.`Battles of WW1’. Airlife books.