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Partick Thistle – a People’s History will be the 150th anniversary book; author Kenny Pieper needs your memories and stories from following the Jags… read more on the club website  or get straight to it by e-mailing: ku.oc.cftp|051#ku.oc.cftp|051 |
| William Templeton |
 William James Templeton was born on Sunday, 13th December, 1891, in Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire. The forward signed for George Easton's Thistle on Monday, 3rd February, 1913, having most recently been with Kilmacolm. Aged 21, he made his debut appearance on Tuesday, 4th March, 1913, in a 3-1 defeat at home to Kilmarnock in the Glasgow & District Mid-Week League. William scored his only two goals for Thistle on the same day; on Tuesday, 1st April, 1913, in a 3-2 defeat away to Third Lanark in the Glasgow & District Mid-Week League. Both goals came in his second and final appearance for the club. His club-list included Kilmacolm and Partick Thistle. William died on Thursday, 27th April, 1916, in Pas-de-Calais, aged 24. |
 The son of William Templeton (iron moulder) and Margaret Templeton (née McClure). William Jr. was the first-born in 1891 and he was soon followed by Andrew, Robert & David. The family resided at Bellhaven Terrace, Port Glasgow, in the 1901 Census. A remarkable quartet, all 4 of the brothers went to fight in Western Europe during World War I. Years before his tragedy unfolded, William was leading the normal life of many a young man. He was a Morton supporter, and this once got him before the Bailie, where the 19-year-old was fined for using foul language in the street. Well, the 'ton had just lost 6-1, we've all been there! An aspiring footballer, William really started hitting some local headlines at the beginning of the 1912-13 season, reportedly banging in over 40 goals in the opening 15 games as an amateur with Kilmacolm. The ever-alert George Easton whisked him in to Firhill for a trial tout-suite and William, almost inevitably, scored in his first outing for the Reserves in December 1912. Playing again for the Reserves, this time under the psuedonym of "Johnstone", William netted a brace in a 3-2 win over Rangers on 1st February 1913. This was enough to convince the Firhill executive of his potential, and the kid from Kilmacolm signed his first professional contract 2 days later. It was around 4 weeks later when William got his first-team debut. The Jags were desperate to find a new centre forward; he was the 13th to feature in the position this season! Alas, it was a case of the unlucky 13th. 600 were at Firhill for the midweek Glasgow League fixture. The visitors took their chances, the homesters did not; Partick Thistle 1 Kilmarnock 3. Match day 4 of the same league came around 4 weeks later — the 1st April 1913 — and William got a second crack at it. 1,000 were at Cathkin Park to see it, and this time William grasped the opportunity splendidly, netting twice against none other than Scotland's #1, Jimmy Brownlie! Unfortunately it was all in vain; Third Lanark 3 Partick Thistle 2. With 5 goals in 6 reserve games (probably more on both counts) and 2 goals in 2 first team games, William was possibly feeling a little hard done by in terms of first-team opportunities afforded, although it was very much early days for his potential Thistle career. We can only speculate as to what brought his time at Firhill to an end, but we note that his father had been promoted to the post of moulder foreman in Belfast in recent years, and it seems that William took the decision to move over and join them. He was employed in the Belfast shipyards — on 'Queen's Island' — when war broke out. William was a reserve soldier at the outbreak of war, and immediately joined 2nd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. He went to France with the Argylls, but transferred to 7th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (R.I.F.). The battalion fought at the Battle of Hulluch (North East France) and were in the line during an attack by the German army. Chlorine and Phosgene gas was used, and William was one of many victims. He died from gas poisoning and wounds on 27 April 1916, and is buried at the Philosophe Military Cemetery at Mazingarbe, Pas de Calais, France. William was married — to Elizabeth — while he back in Belfast on leave on 2nd October 1915 just over 6 months before his death, so it was a tragedy in so many ways. As previously mentioned, William’s three brothers also joined the army. Andrew lost an eye at the Battle of Loos in 1915, when serving in the Scots Guards; Robert served with the Royal Irish Rifles and the youngest David joined as a 14-year-old! His age was discovered and he was “claimed off”. Undeterred, just a month later, the teenager joined the Seaforth Highlanders and, according to family folklore, went to fight in France when he was very young. The Port Glasgow Express of 19 May 1916 was moved to write about the brothers: “There are no slackers in this family, and they are an incentive to other lads in the district to buckle on their armour and do or die for King and Country.” Jingoism indeed. William's sacrifice was acknowledged by three medals (see 'Scrapbook' tab above). We commemorate William's life in our feature piece, The Partick Thistle Fallen →. |
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