In memory of George D B Ledingham, L.Corp. 9th Royal Scots, died 1st Sept 1914 aged 23; also of James Ledingham born 22nd Sept 1857, died 15th Novr 1923
CWGC: Lance Corporal George Douglas Bishop Ledingham, service no. 998, Royal Scots “G” Company 9th Bn. Royal Scots; d. 1 Sept. 1914, a. 23; son of James and Louisa Elizabeth Grubb Ledingham of 34 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh. T 4-6 West. 111
George Douglas Bishop Ledingham was the third son of James Ledingham, tailor and clothier, and his wife Louisa Elizabeth Grubb. He was born in Edinburgh in 1891 and by 1911 he and his older brother Charles had both followed their father into the clothing trade and were working as Tweed warehousemen. Three years later the report of his death stated that he was employed by Messrs Baird & Stevenson, Hunter Square – they were woollen merchants and warehousemen.
George was a member of the Royal Scots 9th battalion territorial force and by the outbreak of war in 1914 was a lance corporal. A report of his death in The Scotsman reveals what happened: while in the battalion quarters at St Clair Street Leith, Ledingham “gripped two of the beams above his head with the intention of turning a somersault, but when he had half-completed the movement one of his hands slipped, and he fell to the ground and sustained a fracture at the base of the skull. He was removed to the Military Hospital at Craigleith, where he died late the same evening.”
He was buried with full military honours in the Grange Cemetery on 4 September. His father and five brothers were among the eight pall bearers. “The short service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. Robert Rae, Hope Park Congregational Church, and when the firing party had fired their three rounds over the open grave, six bugles rang out ‘The Last Post’.”
The Scotsman, 3 Sept. 1914 (death notice), 4 Sept 1914 (report of accident), 5 Sept 1914 (funeral)