In the early days of World War I, three Scottish brothers marched off to war, each serving in a different regiment of the British Army. Among them was Private Robert McLellan, a 19-year-old assistant overseer in a mill, who had enlisted in the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). His brothers, Walter and William, also wore their country’s uniform—Walter with the 2nd Royal Scots and William with the Royal Engineers. But for Robert, the war would be tragically short-lived.
A Young Soldier’s Fate
By late 1914, the war had become a brutal and unrelenting struggle. The Black Watch, renowned for its bravery, found itself in the thick of the fighting in Ypres, Belgium. This ancient city, a strategic stronghold, became the site of a desperate and pivotal battle between British forces and the German Army, including the elite Prussian Guards. It was in this chaotic and unforgiving conflict that 19 year old assistant mill overseer, Robert McLellan, disappeared.
The exact details of his fate remained unknown for many years. No letters home spoke of his last moments, and no official record confirmed whether he was killed, captured, or lost to the battlefield’s horrors. His family waited patiently for months without word and eventually published a request in the Dundee Courier. Eventually, records from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) would confirm that Private Robert McLellan, service number 3/2495, died on 22 October 1914.
His name is inscribed on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, which commemorates over 54,000 officers and men from the British and Commonwealth forces who have no known grave. The Menin Gate stands as one of the most significant memorials of World War I, and every evening at 8 PM, the Last Post ceremony is conducted there in honor of the fallen.
At the time of his disappearance, Robert’s mother, Helen McLellan, was living at 114 Slater Street in Paterson, New Jersey. Like many families with loved ones overseas, she likely faced agonizing uncertainty, waiting for news that never came. I can’t imagine how she felt with all three of her sons marching into danger
Many Scots, including Robert McLellan and his family, emigrated to America in search of a better life. Economic hardships in Dundee and other Scottish cities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries drove many to leave. Jobs were scarce, wages were low, and employers exploited workers, since there was more workers available than jobs to provide. Housing conditions were poor, and cities were overcrowded, making daily life a struggle for working-class families. In contrast, North America promised higher wages, improved living conditions, and the hope of greater opportunities for those willing to make the journey, like the brave McLellans.
The Battle of Ypres: A Turning Point
The First Battle of Ypres, fought between October and November 1914, was a brutal struggle to prevent German forces from breaking through to the English Channel. The British Expeditionary Force, supported by French and Belgian troops, faced wave after wave of German attacks. Among the most feared of these attackers were the Prussian Guards—Germany’s most elite infantry, known for their discipline and relentless assaults. The Black Watch stood against them, suffering heavy casualties in a battle that would ultimately halt the German advance but at an enormous cost.
Robert’s battalion, like so many others, endured relentless artillery bombardment, gas attacks, and the sheer brutality of trench warfare. The battle’s intensity and confusion meant that many soldiers simply vanished—buried by shellfire, lost in No Man’s Land, or left behind in the chaos of retreat and counterattack.
A Family at War
While Robert’s fate was sealed in the fields of Ypres, his brothers continued to fight. Walter, serving in the 2nd Royal Scots, was injured in the spring of 1915 but returned to the battlefield after recovering. William, as a member of the Royal Engineers, played a crucial role in constructing fortifications, bridges, and other essential infrastructure for the war effort. Their service was a testament to the resilience and sacrifice of a generation that bravely answered the call of duty.
Remembering Robert
More than a century later, Robert McLellan’s name remains etched into history. His sacrifice is immortalized at the Menin Gate Memorial, ensuring that he, along with thousands of others, is never forgotten. The battlefields of Ypres, now marked by cemeteries and monuments, stand as a solemn reminder of the immense cost of war.
The disappearance of soldiers like Robert is part of the broader tragedy of World War I, a conflict that reshaped nations and shattered families. Their sacrifices, though often unrecorded in detail, are remembered in the legacy of those who lived on.
