2962 Private John Rollo Scobie
6th(Perthshire)Battalion(Territorial)
The Black Watch(Royal Highlanders)
13th November 1916
Born at 5.30pm on 27/05/1877 at 232 High Street, Perth. His parents were Thomas Scobie (born in 1854) and Isabella Miller Rollo (born in 1857). They were married in 1880.
John had 2 brothers, William (born in 1884) and Thomas (born in 1890). He also had 3 sisters, Margaret Jackson Miller (born on 07/04/1881),Isabella (born in 1885) and Nellie (born in 1887).
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In the 1881(Scottish) census the family were recorded as living at 44 Skinner Gate, Perth, Thomas was an ink maker.
The 1891(Scottish) census shows the family had moved to 232 High Street, Perth, Thomas was still an ink maker and John was employed as a butchers apprentice.
John got married on 21/10/1898 to Agnes Lister Mcmillan (11/02/1878 - 30/10/1931) and they had 5 children, Thomas (1898-03/06/1922), John (1901-1901), Ann Robertson (born on 07/05/1902), William (born on 21/06/1906) and Isabella Miller Rollo
(born on 30/05/1915).
In the 1901(Scottish) census, John and his family were recorded as living at 21 Union Street, Perth. The butchery trade doesn't appear to have suited John as he was now employed as a dyer & cleaner.
At some point after1906(William was born in Perth in 1906), the family moved to England and the 1911 census records the family living at 32 Lawson Street, Stockton on Tees.
Their time in England was not a long one, as by 1915 they were already back in Perth and living at 45 Pomarium Street,
when John enlisted.
John was killed in action on 13/11/1916. He was awarded the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
Perthshire Advertiser – Wednesday 29 November 1916
Private John Scobie
Mrs Scobie, 45 Pomarium Street, has received information that her husband, Private John Scobie has been killed in action. Thirty-eight years of age, Private Scobie enlisted in February 1915 and went to France in August of the same year. Prior to enlistment he was employed Thomson’s Dyeworks, Friarton, Perth. He is survived by a widow and four of a family, one of whom is serving with the colours.
On 22/05/1917, Agnes was awarded a pension of 26/3 a week from 28/05/1917
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Johns eldest son Thomas enlisted on 28/02/1916 as 268502 Private 1st Battalion The Black Watch(Royal Highlanders).
He was discharged from the army on 18/03/1919 suffering with extensive burns and pulmonary T.B. Hew died on 03/06/1922.
Perthshire Advertiser – Saturday 10 June 1922
Scobie – At 31 High Street, Perth, on 3rd June, Thomas Scobie, in his 23rd year, late of 1st Black Watch and son of Mrs Scobie and the late John Scobie – deeply mourned.