The Mysterious Death of Sergeant Major Davie Sands

My Great Uncle David Sands was born in Glasgow in 1910. His father, William Sands, tried to set up a Trade Union for Foundry workers in Glasgow after seeing the horrific injuries of his colleagues (that's another story!). He was blackballed and had to move to booming cottage mill town Preston with his wife and children. His son, David, was born in Preston. David had an illustrious military career and served as a Sergeant Major in the Black Watch in Normandy. He was tough and didn't suffer fools. It was during this time that he lost his life suddenly on the 12th August 1944. Rumour has it that he was killed whilst waking up his men in the trenches with the butt of his sten gun. One of his brigade grabbed the weapon and turned it on David in act of rage. However, according to new documentation, it may have been an accident during an accidental discharge of what can only be described as an inferior weapon that was prone to discharging. It was semi-automatic, so it would have been very difficult to stop and would not have been a pleasant experience. He was only 34 at the time of his death and left no wife or children (that we know of). David is buried in Normandy.