Glenfarg War Memorial Project

Archibald Lawrie Findlay Symington

Corporal 330324 9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion (Territorial) Highland Light Infantry

Born 18 October 1894, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire.
Died 24 March 1918, Ypres Salient, Belgium.

Archibald L.F. Symington was the son of the farm grieve at Arngask Farm, Glenfarg, also Archibald. The 1901 and 1911 censuses show the family living at Arngask Farmhouse – in 1901 his father was then 'Farm servant in charge of horses' – but subsequent to Archibald L. F.'s death in 1918, the CWGC records show his parents as living at Bothwell Bank, Haddington, East Lothian.

Archibald was born at Wardneuk Farm, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire on 18 October 1894, where his father was the farm grieve. His parents Archibald and Mary (née Findlay) Symington having married on 9 January 1890 at Tarbolton, Ayrshire. Judging from the various places of birth of their children, the family obviously moved around, following the father's work.

Archibald had several siblings: James born 1890, Janet (Jessie) McGavin born 1892, Elizabeth (Bessie) M. born 1893, Mary F. born1899 and Jeannie F. born 1906.
The 1911 census shows James aged 21 working as a joiner, Janet aged 18 a student teacher, and Archibald aged 16 an auxiliary postman.

In 1909 Archie Symington was School Dux Medallist at Arngask School (Annals of  Arngask J.D. Mackie 1958).

By 5 November 1914 Archibald was serving with the 9th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, having enlisted at Glasgow. The movements of the regiment were (from The Long Long Trail website):

August 1914 : at Greendyke Street, Glasgow. Part of HLI Brigade in Lowland Division. Moved on mobilisation to Dunfermline.
5 November 1914 : left the Division and landed in France.
23 November 1914: joined 5th Brigade in 2nd Division.
30 January 1916: left the Division and became GHQ Troops.
29 May 1916: joined 100th Brigade in 33rd Division.

Archibald Symington was killed in action on 24 March 1918 and is buried in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery.