Armistice Came Too Late for One Angus Family

At the 11th hour of the 11 day and 11th month 2008 it will be exactly 90 years since the armistice of the Great War 1914-1918.
Many families would be relieved to know that their young men would be returning home, but for some families there would be no such relief as their loved ones had made the ultimate sacrifice for their King and country.
For David Maxwell of Ballindarg, Angus, the armistice had come too late.
David Maxwell lost his wife Jane Maxwell (nee Rennie) in 1893 at the age of 30 to heart disease and early confinement (premature labour), after only four years of marriage. This would have been their third child. Their sons David (b1890) and John Rennie Maxwell (b1891) were both born at their father’s farm, Upper Drumgley, Glamis.
David Maxwell snr remarried in 1899 but until that time had brought up his young sons alone.

The Great War
David jnr and John signed on to serve their country during WW1. John joining the 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, whilst David joined the 5th Battalion,   Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).

John Rennie Maxwell
The 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry went into action for the first time during the Gallipoli Campaign (April 1915- Jan 1916), arriving via Egypt on 26th Sept 1915. Unfortunately, during this ill-fated campaign Corporal John Maxwell, aged 23, lost his life on the 18 October 1915 and is buried at Green Hill cemetery, near Anzac, Turkey. John had previously been commended for his gallantry and bravery.

David Maxwell
Captain David Maxwell was awarded the Military Cross and bar on two separate occasions for “conspicuous acts of gallantry”.  With the end in sight and only 101 days to go until the ceasefire, Captain Maxwell, aged 28, was wounded in action and died two days later on 3rd August 1918. He, like his younger brother before him, has his final resting place in a foreign land, many miles from his family. David is buried in Senlis French National Cemetery, Oise, France.

Padanaram Hall
David Maxwell snr was, surely, devastated at the loss of his sons and erected Padanaram Hall as a permanent memorial to the two brave men.