Ronald Andrew Colquhoun Aitchison
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ronald was the only son of Gowrie Colquhoun Aitchison (Lt Col) and Rose Mabel nee Woolley.His father Gowrie Colquhoun was the son of General Charles Terrington Aitchison and his wife Anne Jane. He was born on 25 February 1863 in Poona, Bombay Presidency, India, and baptised on 17 March 1863 in Poona. Gowrie was a British subject 'by parentage'. He served in the Great War (temp. Lieutenant Colonel, 5th Sherwood Foresters, MiD). His mother Rose Mabel Agnes Woolley was born in Collingham, Nottinghamshire, birth registered 1865 (J/F/M Newark). Gowrie and Rose were married in November 1891; banns were read at Burbage, Derbyshire, (Gowrie had been living at Hartington, Derbyshire, at the time of the 1891 census where he was an assistant manager) and South Collingham St John. They had two children: Annie Katherine Colquohoun b. Burbage 17 November 1892 and baptised in Burbage parish church on 20 December the same year, and Ronald Andrew Colquhoun on 27 December 1894 (birth registered 1895 J/F/M Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire).By 1901 the family was living in Cwm y Glo, Llanrug, Caernarvonshire, Wales, where Gowrie was the manager of the NWNGR railway company. In the household on the night of the census were Gowrie (38), Rose (36), Annie (8) and Ronald (6) and Rose's unmarried sister, Sarah Woolley (52). Gowrie employed a governess and a parlour maid.In 1911 Gowrie, a civil engineer and land agent for the company of Smith Woolley & Wigram, and Rose with their daughter Annie (18), a student, were living at Langford, Newark-on-Trent. Ronald, who would have been about 16 years old, was probably away at school. Gowrie employed four domestic staff: a parlourmaid, housemaid, cook and a sick nurse. By the time of Ronald's death in 1914 his parents were living at The Burnt House, South Collingham, Newark.His mother died on 19 June 1926 at the Central Nursing Home Nottingham, and his father on 25 October 1928. The famiy home was still at The Burnt House, South Collingham.Ronald's sister, Annie Katharine Colquhoun, married Sydney Oliphant Bingham (b. 6 August 1873) in 1916 (J/A/S Dublin, South Ireland). In 1939 they were living at The Lane House, Shirland, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Sydney was a medical practitioner. Also in the household was Betty M Bingham b. 24 November 1919 (1920 J/F/M Belper) who was a student. Sydney Bingham died on 14 October 1951, he was still living at The Lane House. Annie died on 8 March 1980; she was then living at 2 Arlington Road, Petersham, Surrey.
Ronald trained at the Royal Military College Sandhurst and was gazetted Second Lieutenant into The King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) on 16 September 1913. He was recommended for accelerated promotion to Captain and was promoted Lieutenant on 9 December 1914, a few days before his death.The 1st Battalion was part of the BEF (12th Brigade) and disembarked Boulogne on 23 August 1914 and saw action at Cambray on 26 August. Actions at the Marne and the Aisne followed.He died of wounds received in action near Armentieres, France, and buried in the convent garden at Le Bizet but was later reburied in the Strand Military Cemetery, Hainaut, Belgium.
Personal inscription, CWGC headstone: 'Requiescat in Pace' Family memorial in the church of St John the Baptist, South Collingham (WMA 27404):'Plaque in the church of St John the Baptist, South Collingham. Dedication: To the Glory of God and in dear memory of Ronald Andrew Colquhoun Aitchison, Lieutenant 1st Battalion The King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, who fell in the service of his King and Country near Armentieres, France, December 14th 1914, aged 19 years. Greater love hath no man than this.'Ronald is also commemorated on the Llanberis war memorial where for a time the Aitchison family lived at Dolafon, Llanberis.Probate: Aitchison Ronald Andrew Colquhoun of the Burnt House South Colingham Nottinghamshire died 14 December 1914 in France on active service Administration London 1 March to Gowrie Colquhoun Aitchison civil engineer. Effects £69 0s.2d.Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal, Friday 14 July 1916: The marriage arranged between Capt. SO Bingham, RAMC, and Annie Katherine (Nancy) Colquhoun Aitchison, only daughter of Lieut-Colonel G Colquhoun Aitchison, and Mrs Colquohoun Aitchison, of South Collingham, will shortly take place, very quietly, in Ireland. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Probate: Bingham Annie Katharine Colquhoun otherwise Annie Katherine Colquohoun of 2 Arlington Rd Petersham Surrey died 8 March 1980 Probate Nottingham 17 July £62384.Websites: Charterhouse School biography/photographs: charterhousewarmemorial.org.uk/RollofHonour. www.roll-of-honour.com/Caernarvonshire/Llanberis. historypoint.org (Llanberis memorial)
