Birth: 16 August 1896 Walterstead, Ladykirk, Berwickshire, Scotland, UK
Father: Unknown
Mother: Mary Purves 1857-1916
Christening: Unknown
Marriage: 28 April 1916 Broomdykes, Edrom, Berwickshire, Scotland, UK
Wife: Isabella Richardson Steele [Gordon] 1894-1978
Death: 24 April 1917 Guémappe, Pas-de-Calais, Hauts-de-France, France
None known
Entry in Scotlands People for the birth of Peter Purves in 1895 in Ladykirk (746/11). "Page 4 1895 Births in the Parish of Ladykirk in the County of Berwick [...] No. 11 Peter Purves (Illegitimate) 1995 August Sixteenth 1 h. P.M. Walterstead Ladykirk mother Mary Purves, an Agricultural Labourer, informant Mary Purves on 1895 September 5th at Ladykirk".
In the 1901 census as Peter Purves aged 5, born in Ladykirk, Berwickshire, and living with his widowed grandmother (Jane Purves), mother (Mary Purves), uncle (Peter Purves) and sister (Jane Purves) at Simprim Farm Cottages, Swinton, Berwickshire.
In the 1911 census as Peter Purves aged 15, born in Ladykirk, Berick, and a farm labourer living with his mother (Mary) and aunt (Jane) in two rooms with windows in Simprim Mains Farm, Swinton, Berwickshire.
He was present at the death of his mother on 3 February 1916 at Shiels, Ladykirk, Berwickshire and was the informant.
Entry in Scotlands People for the marriage of Peter Purves and Isabella Richardson Steele in Edrom in 1916. "Page 1 1916 Marriages in the Parish of Edrom in the County of Berwick [...] No. 2 1916 on the Twenty Eight day of April at Broomdykes Edrom After Banns According to the Forms of the United Free Church Peter Purves, a Ploughman (Bachelor) aged 20 of Ladykirk ?, mother Mary Purves, a Farm Servant deceased, and Isabella Richardson Steele, a Domestic Servant (Housemaid) (Spinster) aged 21 of Broomdykes, father Alexander Darling Steele, an Engine Driver, mother Alise Steele Ms Wood".
Entry in Ancestry UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 for Peter Purves born in Berwick, living in Coldstream, Berwick, Private 41830 Highland Light Infantry 12th (Service) Battn killed in action on 24 April 1917. in France and Flanders.
Entry in Ancestry UK, Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929for Peter Purves Private 41830 Highland Light Infantry died 24 April 1917 killied in action paid £3 1s 9d plus £3 War Gratuity to Wid. Sole leg. Isabella R Gordon.
Enry in Scotlands People "Return of Warrant Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and Men of 12th Battn Highland Light Infrantry Killed in Action or who may have died whilst on Service Abroad in the War of 1914 to [Blank] [...] No. 41830 Pte Purves Peter aged 21, born in Scotland died on 24.4.1917 Place of Death F & F, K in A."
Entry in Commonwealth War Graves Commision for Purves Private 41830 Peter died Tuesday, April 24 1917 Arras Memorial Highland Light Infrantray"Arras Memorial Bay No. 8 Course "P" Stone No. 6 [...] Purves P" and "Index No. M.R.20 Arras Mem. Part XVIII [...] Purves, Pte. Peter 41830. 12th Bn. Highland Light Inf. 24th April, 1917."
Entry in Ancestry UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920 for Peter Purves Private 41830 WO 329 Highland Light Infantry British War Medal and Victory Medal.
There are two entries in Ancestry Public Member Trees for Peter Purves born in Ladykirk, Berwickshire, Scotland, mother Jane Purves.
I suspect he died during the Battle of the Scarpe 1917 also known as the Second Battle of Arras, probably buring the attack on Guémappe, a small farming village 8 miles southeast of Arras, at the junction of the D34 and the D38 roads.
Peter Purves was the husband of Isabella Richardson Steele, wife of Robert James Gordon, father of Irene Alice Gordon, wife of George William Barton, brother of Dennis Alfred Barton, my brother-in-law.
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