This portrait from 1914 and a bible inscribed, on the inside cover, David Miller Wilson were the only two items belonging to her father which my mother possessed.  As I have already mentioned, my mother was born ‘illegitimate’ at the farm Backside in Glass, at that time the tenant being her mother’s brother, Alexander Gartly.

David M Wilson belonged to Fife, born at Teuchat’s Farm, Largo on the 4th of April in 1889, and, although coming from a long line of farm servants and ploughmen, was described, on his death certificate of 18th, March 1916, as an ‘Asylum Attendant’ before, in brackets, is added ‘Gunner, Royal Field Artillery’.

Because of the sensitivity of the ‘illegitimacy’ issue I was never given much detail as to the circumstances of his death. All I was told was that he had died before an intended marriage to my mother’s mother, Ella Cruickshank Gartley, could take place.  Since my mother’s death I have found out a bit more although gaps in the story still remain.

In Commonwealth War Graves records his death is recorded as ‘Casualty Type- Commonwealth War Dead’ and his death certificate records his death, at Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, as caused by ‘thrombosis of left popliteal vein, twelve days, and pulmonary embolism’.  Stobhill Hospital had been requisitioned by the RAMC and cared for up to a thousand wounded personnel at a time.  It even had its own small railway station for the transporting of wounded. I have no idea, however, as to the nature of any original injury or where, and under what circumstances, it was received.  Indeed, I do not even know if my mother was aware that her father was eventually buried at Kennoway, Fife.

A couple of speculations are prompted by my mother’s birth certificate. First, her mother Ella, who had been born at Wrightstone, Glass on the 17th of March, 1891, is described as a ‘mental nurse’.  Given that David M Wilson is described as an ‘Asylum Attendant’ it seems likely that they may have met in connection with their work.

Second, although my mother was born on the 18th of February, 1916, her birth certificate is dated 21st March, 1916.  This means it was issued more than a month after her birth but only three days after the death of her father.  This suggests that her mother and father were, indeed, intending to marry and it may have been that they delayed certifying the birth till the marriage could take place.  Perhaps this would have avoided the inscription ‘illegitimate’ or at least allowed the father’s name and occupation to be recorded.  However, after her father’s death, there would have been no point in further delay and so the 21st March date.

I notice, as well, that she was christened by W G Guthrie, Minister of Glass.  He is mentioned on page 219 of James Godsman’s ‘Glass, Aberdeenshire- The Story Of a Parish’.

You can read more about Rev W.G. Guthrie by clicking here.

I was told that relatives of her father did express an interest in seeing her and maintaining a connection but this was not encouraged by the grannie.

As already mentioned, Ella emigrated to Canada and left my mother to be brought up by her grannie, Elizabeth Gartly, and her aunt, Bella Gartly.  Indeed, my mother only ever referred to her own mother as ‘Ella’, probably since this was how Ella was referred to by the grannie and aunt.  This photograph is dated 1916 and was, presumably, taken after my mother’s birth.

Ella settled in Toronto and spent all of her working life there as a psychiatric nurse. I believe she did a lot of private work which I guess was quite well paid and also allowed her to take numerous vacations, both to see the sights in America and return to the UK for extended visits.  She never married.