43208 Lance-Corporal Andrew McCrorie was a patient at Beechland House in late 1916 or early 1917.  His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

L/C A McCrorie 2^nd R Scots

Wounded on 8^th Dec 1916

SCOTLAND FOR EVER

His entry in the British War and Victory Medal Roll at The National Archives notes that he served first with the 9^th Royal Scots (and had the army service number 4082) and then transferred to the 2^nd Royal Scots, the 16^th Royal Scots and the 13^th Royal Scots (retaining his 43208 number with the latter three battalions).

The sequence could be that he enlisted with the Territorial Force 1/9^th (Highlanders Battalion) and was then transferred to the 2^nd Battalion.  After recuperating from his wound he then transferred again to the 16^th and then the 13^th Battalions.  His service record is interesting in that he served with Territorial, Regular and New Army Battalions of the Royal Scots. 

His medal entitlement shows that he was entitled to receive the British War and Victory Medals only which means that he must have served overseas no earlier than 1^st January 1916.

In February 1917, whilst at Beechland House, he took part in a pantomime – Beauty and The Beast – performed by patients at the hospital.  He performed the part of the Fairy Godmother.

Sources and Acknowledgements

·       The National Archives: Medal Index Card

·       The National Archives: British War and Victory Medal Roll: D/101 B18 Page 1874: WO 329/635

·       The Long, Long Trail