45398 Gnr. Andrew Wishart ( 1895 – 1973)

Tree: WIS0036

Andrew was the eldest of six children of Andrew Wishart, a joiner from Mid Calder, and his wife, Mary Watson Jenkins. He was born in Livingston on 13 March 1895 and by 1911 was living with his family at 95 Station Cottages. His father had taken up the position of foreman at the Pumpherston Oil Works, and young Andrew was working an engineer’s apprenticeship with the same company.

At the time war broke out in 1914 Andrew was employed as an engine fitter and living near Bathgate. He enlisted in Glasgow on 9 October 1914 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery. Five days later Gunner Wishart was sent to No. 4 Depot (Coastal) in Great Yarmouth where he was based until 7 May 1915 when he was transferred to the 120th Heavy Battery with who he served until 1 February 1916 when he was sent back to the Home Depot.

Andrew appears to have spent the rest of the war on loan to William Beardmore & Co at the firm’s Dalmuir shipyard. The yard had expanded considerably since 1914 and constructed submarines, aircraft, airships and tanks as well as mines, guns and fuses for shells, and had a workforce of around 40,000.

He was eventually discharged from service on 14 December 1918 and returned to Livingston. On 20 April 1927, he married Jean von Hagen Dodds Little in Jedburgh with three daughters subsequently born of the marriage.

Andrew worked as an oil driller until retirement and died in Hawick during 1973.

Are you related to, or think you have further details about Andrew?

If so then I’d love to hear from you. Please click the link below or send an email to mail (at) wishart1418.org. Thank you.