SIM Brothers of Dalserf

William SIM

Captain

6th Battalion

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

attached to 6th Battalion

Seaforth Highlanders

James Robertson Gauld SIM

2nd Lieutenant

3rd Battalion

The Royal Scots

Family gravestone in Larkhall Cemetery

Dalserf War Memorial, Ashgillhead, Ashgill

Newspaper clipping taken from The Daily Record, page 6, dated 20 Jan 1917

This is the family story of the SIM brothers William and James.
[There is another pair of SIM brothers (David and Gavin) and these should not be confused.]

The SIM brothers are NOT named on the Larkhall War Memorial.
They are named on the Dalserf War Memorial, Ashgillhead (see attached).

Their parents were William Sim, a Schoolmaster and Parish Registrar, and Isabella Garden Gauld, who were married at 46 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, on 17 Aug 1880.
Their paternal grandparents were William Sim, a Gentleman Farmer, and Jessie Grant.
Their maternal grandparents were Charles Gauld, a Builder and Contractor, and Rebecca Elmslie Robertson.

Their father was the Schoolmaster at Dalserf School, Village of Dalserf, Parish of Dalserf. He was also the Registrar for the Parish of Dalserf, and after his death, his wife Isabella took over the job of Registrar of the Parish. It became her responsibility as Registrar, to record the death of her husband William when he died on 3 Mar 1917.

The children of the marriage were:
Charles Gauld Sim was born at The Schoolhouse, Dalserf, on 6 Jul 1881.
WILLIAM SIM was born at The Schoolhouse, Dalserf, on 11 Sep 1884.
Isabella Rebecca Sim was born at The Schoolhouse, Dalserf, on 18 Mar 1892.
Alice Dorothy Sim was born at The Schoolhouse, Dalserf, on 24 Jan 1896.
JAMES ROBERTSON GAULD SIM was born at The Schoolhouse, Dalserf, on 30 Apr 1898.

The 1891 DALSERF Census was taken on 5 Apr 1891.
The family are listed at Dalserf School House, as follows:
William Sim, age 43, Head, Headmaster and Registrar of Dalserf, b Inverness.
Isabella Garden Sim, age 32, Wife, b Old Meldrum, Aberdeen.
Charles Gauld Sim, age 9, Son, Scholar, b Dalserf.
WILLIAM SIM, age 6, Son, Scholar, b Dalserf.

The 1901 DALSERF Census was taken on 31 Mar 1901.
The family are listed at Dalserf School House, as follows:
William Sim, age 53, Head, Headmaster and Registrar of Dalserf Parish, b Inverness.
Isabella G. Sim, age 42, Wife, b Old Meldrum, Aberdeen.
WILLIAM SIM, age 16, Son, Scholar, b Dalserf.
Isabella R. Sim, age 9, Daughter, Scholar, b Dalserf.
Alice D. Sim, age 5, Daughter, b Dalserf.
JAMES R. G. SIM, age 2, Son, b Dalserf.

Listed at 4 Cowan Street, Govan, Glasgow:
Charles G. Sim, age 19, Boarder, Student (Arts), b Dalserf.

The 1911 DALSERF Census was taken on 2 Apr 1911.
The family are listed at Dalserf School House, as follows:
William Sim, age 63, Head, Headteacher and Registrar, b Inverness.
Isabella Sim, age 52, Wife, b Old Meldrum, Aberdeen.
Isabella Sim, age 19, Daughter, Student, b Dalserf.
Alice Sim, age 15, Daughter, Student, b Dalserf.
JAMES SIM, age 12, Son, Scholar, b Dalserf.

Listed at 35 Castle Terrace, St Giles, Edinburgh:
WILLIAM SIM, age 26, Boarder, Law Clerk, b Dalserf.

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Military Information for WILLIAM SIM
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WILLIAM SIM was an officer in The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), attached to The Seaforth Highlanders.

On 3 Oct 1915, he was appointed as 2nd Lieutenant and posted to the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
This notice appears in The London Gazette, Number 29313, page 9731, dated 2 Oct 1915.

On Thursday, 10 Feb 1916, 2nd Lieutenant W. SIM joined the 6th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in the Field at DAOURS, France, from 3/6th Home Base Battalion at Hamilton, and was posted to "A" Company. This is recorded in the 6th Battalion War Diary of that date.

The 5th and 6th Battalions, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) were amalgamated during the month of June, 1916.

The War Diary of the 6th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), on 27 Jun 1916, names the list of Officers and their postings to their new Units.

2/Lt W. SIM is shown as being posted to the 6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders.

The War Diary of the 6th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), on 6 Jul 1916, shows 2/Lt WILLIAM SIM returning from leave.

The War Diary of the 6th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), on 9 Jul 1916, names 2/Lt SIM who left by train at 8.30pm that night.

The War Diary of the 6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, on 10 Jul 1916, shows that 2/Lt SIM of the 6th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) joined the Battalion.

On 24 Nov 1916, he was appointed Acting Captain, as of 1 Oct 1916.
This notice is in The London Gazette, Number 29835, page 11419, dated 24 Nov 1916.

WILLIAM SIM was first reported 'Missing', then 'Presumed Dead' on 13 Nov 1916, age 32.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) entry for WILLIAM SIM shows that he is commemorated at THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, Somme, France.

There are 72,337 identified casualties listed on THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.

WILLIAM SIM is commemorated at The Scottish National War Memorial (SNWM) in Edinburgh Castle.

The entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW) shows that WILLIAM SIM was Killed in Action on 13 Nov 1916.

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for WILLIAM SIM shows that he was awarded The Victory Medal and The British War Medal.
The MIC is dated 11 Jan 1916, and shows that he went to France on that date.
The MIC shows that his mother is Mrs Sim, "Whinknowe", Dalserf, Lanarkshire.

The "Soldier's Effects" record shows that his Outstanding Pay of £84/5/9 was paid to Joint Executors John Hall Risk, Esq., and Mrs Alice Dorothy Sim (sister).

A newspaper clipping taken from The Daily Record, page 6, dated 20 Jan 1917, shows a photograph of WILLIAM SIM with the caption:
"Lieut. Wm. Sim (Cameronians), missing. Write to Whinknowe, Dalserf".

A newspaper clipping taken from The Scotsman, page 8, dated 28 Sept 1917, reads:
"SIM - Previously reported wounded and missing on 13th November, 1916, now concluded killed, WILLIAM SIM, solicitor, Captain, Scottish Rifles, attached Seaforths, aged 32, son of the late William Sim, F.E.I.S., and of Mrs Sim, Whinknowe, Dalserf".

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Military Information for JAMES ROBERTSON GAULD SIM
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JAMES ROBERTSON GAULD SIM joined the Seaforth Highlanders as Private S/17005.

On 28 Mar 1917, JAMES was appointed 2nd Lieutenant and posted to The Royal Scots.
This notice is in The London Gazette, Number 30038, page 4050, dated 27 Apr 1917.

JAMES ROBERTSON GAULD SIM was Killed-In-Action on 5 Jun 1917, age 19.
He is named in the War Diary of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots, as being killed by German artillery in either ORCHARD TRENCH or EAST TRENCH, to the Northeast and East of MONCHY, France.
Attached is the original page from the War Diary and my transcription of that page.
The Diary page is for the period 1st to 12th Jun 1917. The Diary gives no exact date of when he was killed. A snippet of the map of MONCHY showing the 2 trenches named in the War Diary is attached.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) entry for JAMES ROBERTSON GAULD SIM shows that he is buried at FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY, ARRAS, Pas de Calais, France.
There are 2,678 identified casualties buried at FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY.

JAMES ROBERTSON GAULD SIM is commemorated at The Scottish National War Memorial (SNWM) in Edinburgh Castle.

The entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW) shows that JAMES ROBERTSON GAULD SIM was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Scots.

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for JAMES ROBERTSON GAULD SIM shows that he was awarded The Victory Medal and The British War Medal. The MIC is undated, which indicates that he went to France after 1915.
It is noted on the MIC that he "Died 5.6.17".
The MIC shows that his mother is Mrs Sim, Whinknowe, Dalserf, Lanarkshire.

The "Soldier's Effects" record shows that his Outstanding Pay was distributed as follows:
His mother - Mrs Isabella Garden Sim:   £18/17/5.
His sister - Miss Alice Dorothy Sim:    £18/17/5.
His sister - Miss Isabella Rebecca Sim: £18/17/5.
A War Gratuity of £5/-/- was paid to his mother as above.
This record shows the date and place of death as "5.6.17 In Action".
This record also shows that he was "3 attd 2 Royal Scots" which explains why he is named in the War Diary of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots.

A newspaper clipping taken from The Hamilton Advertiser, dated 16 Jun 1917, reads:
"SIM - Killed in action, on the 5th inst., James Robertson Gauld Sim, 2nd Lieut. Royal Scots, aged 19 years, youngest son of the late Wm. Sim, and of Mrs Sim, Whinknowe, Dalserf".

A newspaper clipping taken from The Daily Record, page 3, dated 20 Jun 1917, reads:
"Killed in action, Second-Lieut. James Sim, Royal Scots, was in pre-war days a student of medicine residing in Dalserf, Lanarkshire. His elder brother, Captain Sim, was reported missing a considerable time ago".

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Their father William Sim, age 69, died on 3 Mar 1917, at Whinknowe, Dalserf.
Their mother Isabella Garden Sim, age 85, died on 3 Feb 1948, at Whinknowe, Dalserf.

Their parents are buried in Larkhall Cemetery, and their sons Charles, WILLIAM and JAMES are named on the family gravestone.

Lest We Forget!

The London Gazette, Number 29313, page 9731, dated 2 Oct 1915

War Diary - 6th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) - 6 Jul 1916 - Original page

My Transcription

War Diary - 6th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) - 9 Jul 1916 - Original page

My Transcription

War Diary - 6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders - 10 Jul 1916 - Original page

My Transcription

The London Gazette, Number 29835, page 11409, dated 24 Nov 1916

London Gazette, Number 30038, page 4050, dated 27 Apr 1917

War Diary - 2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots - Jun 1917 - Original page

My Transcription

Snippet of Map of MONCHY, showing Trenches ORCHARD and EAST

Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for WILLIAM SIM

Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for JAMES ROBERTSON GAULD SIM

Soldier's Effects record (2 pages) for WILLIAM SIM

Soldier's Effects record (2 pages) for JAMES ROBERTSON GAULD SIM

The Scotsman, page 8, dated 28 Sep 1917

The Hamilton Advertiser, page 1, dated 16 Jun 1917

The Daily Record, page 3, dated 20 Jun 1917

Both SIM brothers were students at The University of Glasgow. I shared my documents and research with the Archivist at the University. The information has been used to add to the University Roll of Honour.

This is a link to the University Roll of Honour for Captain William SIM:

https://universitystory.gla.ac.uk/ww1-biography/?id=4589

This is a link to the University Roll of Honour for 2nd Lieut James SIM:

https://universitystory.gla.ac.uk/ww1-biography/?id=2637

CWGC Commemorative Certificate of William SIM - old version

CWGC Commemorative Certificate of William SIM - new version

CWGC Commemorative Certificate

James Robertson Gauld SIM - old version

CWGC Commemorative Certificate

James Robertson Gauld SIM - new version