Nisbet, Archibald (Archie)
Private
No. 25257, 3rd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Died of disease on Monday 13 January 1919 (aged 29)
Buried:
Newtownards (Movilla) Cemetery, (Grave 1. 104)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Newtownards and District War Memorial
BIOGRAPHY
Archibald Nisbet was born on 30 August 1890 at Bridge Street, Galston, Ayr in Scotland and he was a son of James and Jane (Jeanie) Nisbet (nee Hay) who were married on 1 June 1883 in Straiton, Ayrshire. He had four sisters – Jane (Jeanie, born around 1883), Lilian (Lily, born 5 September 1886, moved to USA), Madge (born around 1892), and Mary (born around 1897).
By 1901, his sister Jeannie (aged 18) was named as the Head of the household.
In civilian life Archibald Nisbet worked as a butcher and he was employed by the firm of Edward Watson and Company in Argyle Street, Glasgow. On 30 October 1913 he was awarded a Certificate of Competency in the Inspection of Meat and Other Foods by the Incorporated Sanitary Association of Scotland. On 9 February 1914 he was admitted as a Member of the Incorporation of Fleshers and at that time his address was 8 Howat Street, Govan. He enlisted on 12 November 1915 at Glasgow.
Archibald Nisbet and Jane (Jeannie) Maddock were married on 14 January 1916 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark) and they lived at 25 Balfour Street, Newtownards with Jeannie’s parents, Thomas and Jane Maddock (nee Doggart). Thomas Maddock was head of the engineering department at the Ards Weaving Company and it was reported in the 22 February 1919 edition of the Newtownards Chronicle that he had 23 near relatives who had served or were serving in the war – two sons, two sons-in-law and nineteen nephews. Six of them died including Archibald Nisbet (son-in-law) and William Maddock (nephew).
According to family records, Archibald and Jeannie Nisbet had two children:
Sheena Maddock (born 7 October 1916 in Scotland)
Thomas Archibald Maddock (born 6 July 1919, seven months after his father died)
During the First World War Private Archibald Nisbet (No. 25257) served with the Highland Light Infantry and he was 29 when he died of pulmonary tuberculosis at 25 Balfour Street, Newtownards on Monday 13 January 1919. The following Wednesday afternoon he was buried in Movilla Cemetery and his CWGC headstone bears the following inscription:
Whosoever Liveth
And Believeth In Me
Shall Never Die
John XI. 26
After Private Archibald Nisbet died, his widow Jeannie placed a notice in the Newtownards Chronicle and it contained the verse:
His weary hours and days of pain,
His troubled nights are past;
His ever patient worn out frame
Has found sweet rest at last.
Private Archibald Nisbet (No. 25257) is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial. His widow, Jeannie, died on 2 April 1978 (aged 88).