Surname:	Cattanach
Forename(s):	Angus M.
Rank:	Lance Corporal
Service number:	3658
Regiment:	1st Cameron Highlanders
Date of death:	23 July 1916 Aged 27
Place of death:	Somme
Buried Commemorated	Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval – VII.B.29 Kingussie War Memorial and Kingussie and Insh Memorial in Kingussie Parish Church.

Background

Angus was born on 29 November 1888 at King Street, Kingussie. His father, at the time of Angus birth, was a Railway Clerk. His parents had married in Inverness on 18 December 1884. His father died, aged, 40 years, when Angus was aged 6.

In 1911 Angus, aged 22, was living in Glasgow as a compositor. On his death he is described as son of the late Angus and Mrs Helen Cattanach, of Kinrara House, King St., Kingussie. Angus had one older and one younger brother.

War Record

Angus died 23 July 1916 at the Somme. He was reburied at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery with other Cameronian ‘unknowns’ reburied beside him. Of the 5,600 Caterpillar Valley Cemetery almost 3,800 are unknown graves. None of Angus’ effects were returned to base.

Angus final letter Friday 21 July 1916 copied from the Free Presbyterian Magazine Vol 122 No 1.

My dearest mother, It is with tears in my eyes that I commence to pencil this note, realising that, owing to the uncertainty of time and that which is ahead of us on the morrow, there is the probability that I may not see you again in time. O may God grant, if it is His will, that if I should fall we may meet at the Great Assembly at His right hand, arrayed in the spotless garment of Immanuel’s righteousness. That is what should be my chief concern now.

Dear mother, I am going forward into the uncertainty of tomorrow, desiring to put my trust for time and eternity upon Christ who is the alone sure foundation: praying that, not for any merits in me, for I am of all creatures the most miserable, but for His own name’s sake, He would take saving dealings with me and deliver me from this body of sin and death; that He would make me a fit subject for the kingdom of glory. O, if that be in accordance with His blessed will, may He answer your prayers and that of all the kind friends, that He would be with me and cover my head in the day of battle and keep me from all harm and bring me in safety through the terrible or deal through which I am likely to pass.

What I ask for myself – O how selfish we are! – I would desire grace to seek at all times that it might be the portion of all who are with me. O that He would pour out a spirit of repentance upon us, that we as a company, a battalion, a brigade, a division (and divisions all over) would confess our great transgressions and seek, even at the eleventh hour, His forgiveness and His help, rather there would be success upon success attending our efforts. As for myself, may He help me to go forward, having no great reliance on
man or his weapons of destruction, but having my whole confidence in the “God of battles”. If God be for me, what need I care though thousands ten should round encompass me?

I have been reading now and for some time in Psalms 32 and 91, and 94,9, 17, 20, 23, 27, 34, 46, 51, 62, 103, 121, 140, from particular verses (which are marked in my Pocket Selected Psalm Book), in each of which, if I am not deceived, I hope I derive ground for hope and confidence in the saving mercy of God. My battle cry will be that of the godly of Old Testament times: “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon”.
(Into Thy hand, O God, do I commit all my concerns. Remember my be- loved mother. Spare, strengthen and help her to endure whatsoever, in Thine all-seeing providence, Thou mayest have in store for her. I thank Thee now for the greatest of all temporal and human gifts, a godly mother. Hear her prayers on behalf of us, her unworthy children, and may we turn unto Thee while we are still on mercy’s ground and in the place of hope. If it be Thy blessed will, O God, take me back in safety to see and enjoy the fellowship
of my dear mother, and grant that at all times I may do and act according to the godly example which she has set before me. Hitherto, O Lord, Thou hast helped me. Continue Thy favour, for Christ’s sake, towards me and carry me through this battle, covering me under Thy wings if it be Thy blessed will.

Now, dear mother, my thoughts are and will be with you and all the dear friends. If I die in a foreign country, I will seek to do so, trusting in the merits of Jesus that we may meet again on that bright shore where sin and sorrow and pain will be unknown.
God have mercy on us all. Good-bye, Mother, Alick and Ewen.
Love from Angus.

“In God have I put my trust, I will not fear what man can do unto me.”
“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.”
“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name
of the Lord our God.”
All my belongings, and what may fall to me, will be my mother’s property.

(Signed) A M Cattanach