The Whitburn Band is appealing for information about a former bandsman who was killed in the First World War.

Private William Aitken of the Royal Scots died in action on December 3rd, 1917. He was aged just 20 and was subsequently buried at Duhallow ADS Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Belgium.

Member

In a newspaper report from January 1918, under the headline 'Whitburn Bandsman Killed', it states how Private Aitken was "a member of Whitburn Public Band, which he joined when he was 12-years-old".

Current tuba player Robert Fraser is working on a major archive project about the band in preparation for their upcoming 150th anniversary in 2020 and is planning to travel to France where he plans visit Private Aitken's grave.

Sacrifice

Ahead of the trip, Robert is hoping to contact any relatives of the player, as he told 4BR: "Private Aitken is just one thousands of British soldiers who lost their lives in the First World War.

Coming across his story has reminded everyone involved in the Whitburn organisation of the sacrifice that bandsmen made at the time, and what that meant for the families left behind. William's father, also called William, was a member of the band as well.

The current Whitburn Band will honour one of its own when I travel to France next month and I want to ask if anyone knows of the Aitken family or their relatives to get in touch so they can be part of this time of remembrance and reflection."

Coming across his story has reminded everyone involved in the Whitburn organisation of the sacrifice that bandsmen made at the time, and what that meant for the families left behindRobert Fraser

Information

If you have any information, please e-mail the band on or call 07830 515357