Soldier will get a headstone in Bo'ness Cemetery over 100 years after his death

Private Michael Muldoon, of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, was only 18 when he was accidentally shot during a training exercise at Whinnyhill Shooting Range in Burntisland, on November 14, 1917, while stationed at Kinghorn in Fife.

Private Muldoon was subsequently buried in an unmarked grave in Bo’ness Cemetery.

While his name appears on Bo’ness War Memorial, he was not – until very recently – commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), despite the fact he met the criteria for its criteria for commemoration.

The book Without Fear: World War 1 Stories of the Men on the Bo’ness War Memorial, written by Robert Jardine, Richard Hannah and Alan Gow featured Private Muldoon’s story and the lack of recognition was highlighted to the CWGC.

With the help of Private Muldoon’s relatives in Bo’ness, further information was provided, and now the CWGC have confirmed he will finally be given a granite CWGC headstone in the near future.

Richard Hannah, of the Without Fear Project, said: “We are all pleased that, after a period of nearly 104 years, Michael’s service has now been officially recognised. The process is lengthy and onerous, but our persistence and patience has paid off.

“We are looking forward to the headstone being installed in the coming months and there is sure to be a great interest in the town when it happens”.

Private Muldoon’s headstone will increase the number of CWGC maintained graves, from both World Wars, in Bo’ness Cemetery to 37 in total.