Surname:	Sellar
Forename(s):	William John
Rank:	Private
Service number:	S/13179
Regiment:	7th Cameron Highlanders
Date of death:	25 September 1915 Aged 22
Place of death:	Loos
Buried Commemorated	Unknown Loos Memorial Panel 119 to 124

Background

William was born on 17 September 1893 at High Street, Kingussie. William’s parents George Sellar and Elspet (m.s. McKay) married in London on 28 March 1876. 

In 1901 his father bought the Balavil Hotel, Newtonmore. At the 1901 Census William was living with his parents at Viewmount, East Terrace, Kingussie. His father was described as a Wine and Spirit Merchant and William was aged 7 and at school. Later that year, William’s mother died aged 50 at Viewmount, Kingussie on 9 October 1901 when William was 11. He played shinty for Glasgow Cowal Shinty Club.

Remembered on the family grave at Kingussie Churchyard are Elspet and George, William’s parents, William and his brother Alexander Mackay Sellar who died in Sydney, Australia on 16 November 1912 aged 24 years. William was the youngest of three sisters and one brother.

War Record

William attested as a Private in the Cameron Highlanders on 9 September 1914. For the previous 3 years he had been living at 50 St Georges Road, Glasgow and he was working as a clerk. He died at the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915.  His body was not recovered and he is remembered on the Loos Memorial to The Missing.

He is also remembered on the Kingussie War Memorial and Kingussie and Insh Memorial in Kingussie Parish Church and the