First World War British War Medal and Victory Medals to the Noble Brothers of Dumfries, Scotland - both served with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
British War Medal - Captain John Noble - 5th Bn. Cameron Highlanders (Late 6th Bn.)
Victory Medal - Lieutenant Robert McMillan Noble - 2nd Bn. Cameron Highlanders
Both were the sons of Joseph Noble and Marion Dawson McMillan of Dumfries, Scotland
Captain John Noble
B. 1888 Dumfries
Master of Arts and Bachelor of Science, Glasgow University.
Initially served as a Private then Corporal with the 6th Camerons, sending a famous letter home from Loos. He was then commissioned into the 5th Camerons and was attd. 9th Bn. Machine Gun Corps when he was killed in action near Ypres on the 28 September 1918.
His Victory medal is named CAPT. J. NOBLE. Note CWGC and other records only have him as a Lieutenant however his medal index card and the medal rolls confirm him as a Captain and this his medal.
Below was taken from Our War 1915, a letter sent home by John to his father describing the action at Loos:
"“Reflecting on all that I saw, I cannot but marvel at how the battlefield robs death of some of the terrors which one imagines accompany it. But I marvel most at the fact of my escape from even a wound. Passing through the village of Loos, we were heavily shelled, and I was knocked clean off my feet by the shock alone of a bursting shell, which passed clean through the wall of a house, but I was quite unhurt. At first one felt a little sick at the sight of the dead, but that feeling gave way quickly before the call to fight, and one was able during a lull to reverently cover the faces of the dead. It was my happy privilege to bandage up some wounded near me, to cheer them with a few words, and to give them a sip of water from my bottle. The enemy showed us only their heels after making a brief stand in their various lines of trenches. Our brigade went third into the fight, and were severely shelled and suffered somewhat from the machine guns. I remember charging up a hillside amid the terrific hail of bullets. Many beside me were wounded. The enemy tried gas shells on us, and these hindered our advance for a little, but on we went again, until relieved by another brigade. I am proud of my regiment to-day and of my brave comrades, both those who have fallen and those who are saved. There are many brave deeds done there, and Scotland has still reason to be proud of here sons. I am full of hope for the future success of our arms.”[1]
Lance-Corporal Noble wrote his letter to his father, Joseph, who lived at 28 Cardoness Street in Dumfries, describing his battalion’s part in the fighting at Loos and Hill 70. Born on 3 March 1888, John was the son of Joseph and Marian Noble. He had been educated at Dumfries Academy and the University of Glasgow, which he graduated from in 1913 with an M.A. and a B.Sc. (Hons) in Pure Science. Enlisting shortly after the outbreak of the war, Noble had arrived in France on 10 July 1915. Later promoted to Corporal, John was commissioned on 1 February 1916 and posted to the 5th (Service) Battalion. He married Agnes McLeod on 13 December 1917. Appointed an Acting Captain, Noble was attached to the 9th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps when he was killed near Ypres on 28 September 1918. He is buried at Ypres Town Cemetery Extension: Plot II, Row F, Grave 6."
https://ourwar1915.wordpress.com/2017/09/24/a-scottish-soldier-at-loos-1-s12793-lance-corporal-john-noble-6th-service-battalion-the-queens-own-cameron-highlanders/
Below was taken from the Glasgow University website:
John Noble
MA BSc
John Noble was born on the 3rd March 1888 in Dumfries to Marian and Joseph, a Sheriff's officer. The family lived at 28 Cardoness Street, Annan Road, Dumfries, and John was educated at Dumfries Academy.
In 1905, he came to the University of Glasgow where he would study for eight years. During this time he took subjects spanning the arts and sciences, including Latin, Moral Philosophy, Maths and Chemistry. He won prizes for Honours Maths, Astronomy and Physical Laboratory. On the 22nd November 1913, John graduated both MA and BSc (Pure Science). In the summer of 1913, he was accepted for a one-year postgraduate course of teacher training at the Glasgow Provincial Training College, forerunner of Jordanhill College of Education, now the University of Strathclyde. He completed this successfully on the 1st August 1914, gaining the Teacher's General Certificate, which qualified him to teach in primary schools. He was appointed to a post at Henderson Street Public School in Glasgow from the 1st September 1914.
John married Agnes Mcleod on 13th December 1917 in Kirkmahoe, Dumfriesshire, presumably whilst on leave as he was a Lieutenant with the Cameron Highlanders at the time.
John served with the 5th Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders and was attached to the 9th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps. He died, aged 30, on the 28th September 1918 and is buried in Ypres Town Cemetery Extension, Belgium. Lance Corporal John Noble is remembered on the Dumfries Academy Memorial; on the Roll of Honour of the Glasgow Provincial Committee for the Training of Teachers, and on the Glasgow Provincial Training College war memorial, located in the David Stow Building on the former Jordanhill Campus.
Lieutenant Robert McMillan Noble
B. 1889 Dumfries
Served with the 2nd Bn. Cameron Highlanders during the Salonika campaign and appears in the photograph taken of the Officers of the 2nd Camerons taken in Tiflis, Georgia (now known as Tbilisi). At the time he was commanding 'B' Coy.
After the war he emigrated to South Africa and had a son with his wife Helen. The couple named him John, no doubt after Robert's older brother who was killed in 1918. Robert died in 1961.
British War Medal - LIEUT. R. M. NOBLE/
Lots more research to be done on Robert as I do no yet have his service record.
AJMS Medals