James Black, Royal Scots, WW1

I've finally reached the point with the Whitsome WW1 war memorial where I
have only 1 complete holdout (I've not had much luck with Michael Thomson,
naval schoolmaster, either but I have a couple of possible leads). According
to the memorial, there was a James Black, 1st Btn Royal Scots. Now, while
the regiment did indeed have a number of men of this name (as shown by the
medals cards), I'm having no luck at all in pinpointing my man. I've tried
CWGC, where the most likely one has turned up elsewhere, and was in the
wrong batallion, anyway.
I've tried the "Soldiers Who Died" at 1837online - again no luck.
Running a search on "Soldiers Who Died" for birthplace=Whitsome turned up 6
people, 5 of whom are not on the memorial, but not him (I've managed to
track them all)
The 1901 census for the parish shows a family called Blackie with a James of
a suitable age, but it's not him.
CWGC has a lot of "J. Black", but with insufficient information to take
them any further (no age, no forename, etc).
I'm aware that he could be on the memorial under a different name - thanks
to Forrest I've identified a mystery Abram Gibson as someone who was
baptised Abram but called himself Frank. I'm also aware that his link to
the parish might be fairly loose (one of the other guys seems to be there
simply because his Grandfather lived in the parish).
I just can't see where to go from here.
Any suggestions anyone, or is James a lot cause?
Lesley Robertson

Sheena Tait...

Have you tried the Scottish National War Memorial site
from the CWGC. There are several J Blacks in the Royal Scots but none
from the 1st Bn. The SNWM site also has an entry for Michael Thomson
but very few details - only that he was a Warrant Schoolmaster

Lesley Robertson...

Thanks Sheena, I hadn't tried it. Interestingly, the same James (13th Btn)
came up that I'd been looking at before - but it adds one piece of info - he
was born in Forfar. Another candidate eliminated! There's another on (5 Btn)
I hadn't noticed before who might be worth checking... It's amazing how much
it helps when they record the place of birth as well.

viv.dunstan...

Can be sure about the Forfar one? Mightn't he have moved south as a
youngster or a bit later? I'm just wondering about the other reasons why
someone might be on a war memorial and the less obvious connections.

Of course the 1911 census could be helpful for you, if when it's
released it has the type of detail from 1901 etc. and lists your man
somewhere near Whitsome. But that's a few years down the line yet!

I've pretty much given up on WO Thomson until I can get to Innerleithan,

Lesley Robertson...

I remember announcing that I was nearly done - and then they brought the
1891 out... It would be nice to think I'll be done by the 1911! I think I'll
try and get a few more years of the Valuation Rolls for now!
Lesley Robertson

where the CWGC says he's buried.
Lesley Robertson