Remembrance Sunday

The Largo war memorial was unveiled in 1921 with 51 names inscribed on 3 panels.  One of those names was Private Peter Melville of Black Watch. Born in Largo in 1884 to fisherman David Melville and his wife Elizabeth (nee Ballingall), by the time that Peter enlisted in Kirkcaldy his parents had both passed away. Father, David, had drowned at sea in February 1896, along with his brother and brother-in-law, leaving a family of eight (mostly grown up). 

In September 1917 it was Peter's elder brother Alexander Melville, a gents' outfitter on Kirkcaldy High Street, who received news from France. The Fife Free Press reported on this "sorrowful intimation" which stated that Peter "had died on 26th August at a casualty clearing station In France from severe gunshot wounds". It was noted that "Private Melville had served his apprenticeship to the drapery trade with Mr G. S. Rodger Upper Largo thereafter gaining experience in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee, and ultimately coming to Kirkcaldy to assist his brother, with whom, previous to joining the colours in October 1916, he had been for 11 years.  Training in England, he sailed for France in the beginning of July.  On his last visit to the town, he was in excellent health and spirits. The gallant soldier was a very lovable man and was highly popular among all classes. He was 32 years of age and unmarried."

Private Peter Melville is pictured below.