PRIVATE PETER FENTON
BLACK WATCH
13TH NOVEMBER 1916 AGE 28
BURIED: Y RAVINE CEMETERY, SOMME, FRANCE
Peter Fenton was his parents' eldest child. In 1901 he had six younger siblings. Killed in action in the 51st Highland Division's attack on Beaumont Hamel on 13 November, he was buried in Y Ravine Cemetery where his grave was subsequently lost. There are now more than 400 men buried in the cemetery of which only 275 are identified burials and 53 have special memorials, like Peter Fenton's. These are headstones that look identical to the standard War Graves Commission headstone but have carved on them the words: 'Known to be buried in this cemetery'.
Peter's mother, Mrs Christina Fenton, chose his inscription, a touching declaration of love and affection that, written in the first person, makes no reference to either his father or his siblings. A gravestone in Dunfermline Cemetery testifies to the fact that James Fenton, Peter's father, was still alive. He died in 1934.
Erected by Christina Hutchison
In memory of
Her dear husband
James Fenton
Died 3rd Sept. 1934 aged 77
Also their son
Peter
Killed in the Great War
13th Nov. 1916 aged 28
Also their daughters
Nettie
Died 27th July 1916 aged 21
Maggie
Died in infancy
Also the above
Christina Hutchison
Died 9th April 1946 aged 77