David Borthwick Tait

Location:
Cramond Kirk
Cramond Glebe Road,
Edinburgh
Midlothian
EH4 6NS

Details on cross:

At top of the shaft a GRU Tag:-
GRU

On the cross beam:
2/LIEUT TAIT.
5/6 ROYAL SCOTS.
17-8-18

Text type: All GRU metal tags

Cross dimensions
Shaft Height: 775 mm
Cross beam width: 400 mm
Width of wood: 68 mm
Thickness or depth: 20 mm
Circle plate (if celtic type)
Square plate (if supported)

Other information
Mounting to wall: Attached to the wall with a metal ring screwed into the top of the shaft, and a hook on the wall.
Detailing: None.
Evidence of use in field: The cross has been broken off and shortened at one time, but marks of being in the ground are still evident, as is some soil.
Surface insertion depth (if apparent): N/A
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Untreated wood
Condition: Not very good, hasn’t been well looked after and the shortening looks like it was done by breaking a piece off.

Notes and observations:
There is an unattributed historian’s note next to the cross which reads:-
“This cross marked the temporary grave of Second Lieutenant David Borthwick Tait, 4th Battalion Royal Scots, attached to the 5th/6th Battalion. He was killed in action at Parvillers, France on 11th August 1918, aged 23. His remains are now in-terred in Bouchoir New Bristish Cemetery, maintained by the Commonwealth Graves Commission. Bouchoir is a village on the main road from Amiens to Roye. The cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought from several small Commonwealth Cemeteries and from the battlefields round Bouchoir and south of the village.
“This grave marker was installed by the Grave Registration Unit (GRU) when he was buried in his temporary grave on the 17th August 1918. It was returned to his family when he was re-interred at Bouchoir.
“His family’s burial plot lies to the right of the back entrance to Cramond Kirk graveyard, where there is also a memorial to him.”

The cross is mounted below a memorial window to the dead of the parish, and next to the roll of honour from both wars, to the right of the alter in Cramond Kirk.

NB – CWGC Note the DoD as 11th August, not 18th as on the cross.

CWGC:-
TAIT, DAVID BORTHWICK
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Date of Death:11/08/1918, Age:23
Regiment/Service: Royal Scots 4th Bn. attd. 5th/6th Bn.
Grave Reference: V. E. 23.
Cemetery: BOUCHOIR NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Annie Cramond Tait, of Glenholm, Davidson’s Mains, Edinburgh, and the late James Guthrie Tait. Formerly employed on Staff of Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh.

cramond_kirk_img_6062

Survey, photographs and motorcycle courtesy of Scott Galloway
Date of survey: 30/10/2016