110 years ago today, Percy Lionel Mobray died on 29th October 1914 age 42.
He was the son of Capt. W. H. Moubray, R.N. and his wife Adeline (nee Babington), of Otterston House, Cockairnie, near Aberdour. The Moubray’s were a prominent local family with generations buried at St Bridgets Kirk. At the time of the Great War they owned the now demolished Otterston House and Cockairnie House which still stands today. The lands of Cockairnie had been in the Moubray family from 1511 until the early 1970s.
He was born on 3rd August 1872, in Cockairnie and was educated at Loretto High School, Edinburgh 1884-1890.
He entered the Black Watch in 1899 and served in South Africa, being captured by the enemy in 1900 and shortly afterwards released.
On the outbreak of war Captain Mowbray was posted to the 1st Battalion, forming part of the 1st Infantry Brigade of the 1st Division B.E.F., which late in October 1914 was holding a line north-east of Hooge. Here, on the morning of October 29th 1914, his company, attacked by vastly superior forces, was practically wiped out, and Captain Moubray was shot dead where he stood in the trench.