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It should not be forgotten that West Calder was a mining area and casualties in that industry often combined with losses at the Front to make the plight of some families even more poignant.
'Mr Adam Prentice, Mossend, has been officially notified that his son Private Alexander Prentice of the Royal Scots is posted missing. We extend every sympathy to him and his wife. Within the past year they have suffered a severe trial , as their other two sons lost their lives in the local mines.'
In a few cases, as it was here thankfully, the message 'missing in battle' ended on a happy note.
'Mr and Mrs Adam Prentice have received a postcard to say that their son, who had been posted as missing in battle, was alive and a prisoner of the Germans' His communication with them stated that he was 'being treated fairly well, but that they had not had much sleep, as they were kept in the open, surrounded by barbed wire. The food he was getting was fairly good.'
Another local man shared the same fate.
'Mr and Mrs Wilson, Myrtle Grove, West Calder, received the glad news yesterday that their son, who has been posted missing since the 22nd October, is alive and a prisoner of war in Germany.'
'Private Thomas Wilson had a splendid scholastic career, and is a young man of much promise. He joined the Glasgow Highlanders to do his bit, but on going into action he was transferred to the Royal Scots. It appears he was severely wounded, and no trace of him could be got from October 22nd.'
'His commander wrote home stating that he had been posted missing in action. Naturally his parents were anxious about his fate, as none of his comrades could throw any light on what had happened to him. A postcard was received from him yesterday, from a German Camp, in which he states that after having been severely wounded he had almost given up hope of being rescued. A young German soldier found him, bandaged his wounds, and had him taken to a dressing station in the German lines, from which he was afterwards taken to hospital. He says he is well cared for, and asks his parents not to worry about him as he is getting on alright.'
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