The death in battle of a respected scholar is commemorated by a small plaque in General Register House, Edinburgh.
Before the First World War Charles Whitehead Yule worked in the Historical Department of Register House (now General Register House) as an Assistant Curator (in modern terms an archivist). He was born in 1888, the second of three children of James Yule, a builder in Kinghorn in Fife, and his wife Thomasina Whitehead. Charles lost his father at the age of two.
Thomasina Yule with her children Charles, Jane and Peter, 1890s Courtesy of Fiona Gregg-Smith
He was educated at Clifton Hall school in St Andrews and Kirkcaldy High School, before entering St Andrews University. He gained a first class MA degree in classics in 1910, and in 1911 a first class degree in economic science. In 1912 he received a B.Litt degree.
Charles W Yule and fellow lodgers at no. 6 Golf Place, St Andrews, recorded in the 1911 Census. NRS, 1911 Census, 453/5, p.9
Meanwhile, in October 1911 Lord Pentland, Secretary of State for Scotland and a progressive member of the Liberal government, arranged Yule’s appointment to the staff of Register House. As the Deputy Clerk Register there later explained, Lord Pentland appointed him, ‘his attention having been drawn to Captain Yule’s attainments and suitability for such a post by his friends in St Andrews’ (NRS, SRO22/6/30, letter of 22 May 1916). One of those friends who influenced Yule’s appointment was almost certainly Robert Kerr Hannay, a lecturer in ancient history and political philosophy at St Andrews, whom Lord Pentland appointed Curator of the Historical Department at the same time. Hannay took up his post at Register House on 6 November 1911, a fortnight before Yule began as his Assistant on 20 November. Yule lodged at 68 Spottiswoode Street, Edinburgh, and helped support his mother in Kirkcaldy.
Charles W Yule, circa 1912. Courtesy of Fiona Gregg-Smith
On the outbreak of war in 1914 he joined up and was attested on 29 September. He applied for a commission, and doubtless owing to his experience as a cadet in St Andrews University officer training corps he was successful. In November 1914 he ceased to be Private 17276 of the ‘Edinburgh Battalion’ of the Royal Scots. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in 13th Battalion of the same regiment, he was later promoted to first lieutenant. The battalion crossed to France in July 1915 with the 45th Brigade in 15th (Scottish) Division, part of Kitchener’s new armies. For ‘conspicuous gallantry’ at the Battle of Loos in September 1915 he was recommended for, but not awarded, the Military Cross. He was however promoted to the rank of temporary Captain on 4 October.
Informal photograph of Charles W Yule in subaltern’s uniform, circa 1915. Courtesy of Fiona Gregg-Smith
In May 1916 the battalion was in the line at Vermelles, north of Loos and opposite the German-held Hohenzollern Redoubt. On 11 May, during a massive German artillery bombardment a shell landed on a dugout and exploded inside, killing or wounding all the battalion headquarters staff. Yule was one of five officers killed outright. A heavy infantry assault followed, and by nightfall the battalion had suffered casualties of 13 officers and 226 other ranks killed or wounded. Yule was one of seven officers killed in action that day. He was 27 years old and unmarried.
Photograph of Charles W Yule as second lieutenant, circa 1915 ‘University of St Andrews: Roll of Honour and Roll of Service, 1914-1919’ (Edinburgh,1920), p.27
Letter from Sir James Patten MacDougall to Mrs T Yule, 22 May 1916. Courtesy of Fiona Gregg-Smith
His grieving mother had the consolation of a kind letter from the department head, Sir James Patten MacDougall, which spoke of his ‘talent and ability in his chosen line’ and the friendships he had formed with his colleagues.
May 16 1916.
Dear Mrs. Yule
It was the deepest and most sincere regret that I read the notice of your son’s death in this morning’s paper. His was a life of much promise in the walk which he had chosen, and, in the years that he has been here, he has not only done much good and useful work, but has found a warm place in the hearts of all his colleagues. He will be much missed, both because we shall lose his talent and ability in his own special line, and because he has made many friends.
As Deputy Clerk Register, and Head of Department in which your son
[page 2] has worked so ably and successfully since he came to us, I beg to offer the sympathy we all feel most truly for you in your great loss and the hope that it may be some consolation to you to know that he has fallen in this terrible struggle in defence of his country and met his end like the true patriot he was. This has been a comfort to many in similar circumstances
Yours most truly
J. Patten MacDougall
Mrs Yule
Giffen Park Dysart
Original letter courtesy of Fiona Gregg-Smith
In an official letter MacDougall described how Yule ‘made for himself a number of friends here, was extremely popular and did excellent work in the Historical Department, where his services will be much missed. He had been twice home since he went to the front, and his letters, which I sometimes saw, were extremely interesting and instructive. His loss is much regretted by everyone.’ He also hinted that as Yule had poor prospects of promotion he was known to have been ‘on the lookout for a new sphere of activity where he would have had greater opportunity of exercising his special attainments.’ (NRS, SRO22/6/30, letter of 22 May 1916)
Brass plaque to the memory of Charles Whitehead Yule, General Register House, Edinburgh, circa 1920. National Records of Scotland
Yule was buried with many comrades in Vermelles British Cemetery. He was commemorated by a plaque (measuring only 17 x 14 cms) in the old catalogue room of Register House. As this room is adjacent to the Historical Search Room, it was perhaps where Yule worked, ready to assist researchers who were consulting the records. The Latin inscription ‘ad memoriam virtutis’ can be translated as ‘in commemoration of worth’, a fitting phrase for a classical scholar who enjoyed the respect and affection of his colleagues.
In 1907 Yule made his widowed mother Thomasina the sole beneficiary of his estate, which in 1916 amounted to £625. 6s. 7d, one third consisting of back pay and his officer’s account, and the rest two life insurance policies (according to his will and inventory of estate in ScotlandsPeople). His mother was to receive £80 pension annually. She died in Edinburgh in 1924, survived by her married daughter Jean (Jane), her elder son Peter having died at sea in 1904.
The modest plaque commemorating Yule is the only such memorial in the Register Houses. An online Roll of Honour now contains his name and those of dozens of his colleagues who either lost their lives during the First World War, or served and survived.
Further Sources
- The wills and testaments of Scottish officers and other ranks can be searched online on Scotland's People.
- Records relating to General Register House can be searched on the online catalogue under archive reference, SRO6. These can be viewed in the Historical Search Room
- Charles White Yule's Officer's Service Record is in The National Archives (TNA) at Kew, archive reference WO339/1113
- The War Diary of 13th Battalion Royal Scots is in TNA, archive reference WO95/1946
