Here we have a circa 1912 Brook & Son Edinburgh ‘Glow Worm’ silver Borgel cased trench watch. It has the personal engraving to the rear ‘W.R.B McJannet 8th December 1914’ who was KIA during the Somme in July 1916. 
It has a well proportioned 35mm case. It is a Silver Borgel case with the solid back, wire lugs and coin edge bezel. It has hallmarking from London assay office dating to 1912. There is the original onion style crown to the right, with the pin set below. It has a bright white enamel dial with the black railroad track. It has clear Arabic numerals with the red 12. There are the large luminous plots to each of the hour markers, fitting with the ‘Glow Worm’ name. The dial is signed below the model name with ‘Brook & Son Edinburgh’. The sub-second dial is inset with the railroad track. The thermally blued hands are of cathedral style and are original. The luminous in-fill has been restored to colour match the hour markers. 
The movement is unidentified but is a good quality 15 jewel Swiss lever calibre. It is recently serviced and has a daily variation of 20 seconds a day.
 
It is an early Borgel case, clearly aimed at those in the military. We are surprised to find no trace of other watches bearing the ‘Glow Worm’ name. It’s such an interesting early name, from an interesting retailer. 
 
William Robert Benny McJannet
‘W.R.B McJannet 8th December 1914’
 
William Robert Benny McJannet was born in 1886 St Ninians, Stirlingshire. 
 
He was the only son of the late John Douglas McJannet and of Mrs. Alison Margaret McJannet. His parents raised him in Woodlands House in St Ninians.
 
He was educated at Glenalmond School in Perthshire. He went on to read Law at Univ (University College Oxford) beginning in 1904. He began his professional life working as a Solicitor. He was the husband of Caroline Anne Fraser or McJannet (now Dingwall).
 
He was enlisted in November 1914 as part of the British Army and was commissioned in January 1915. He was serving with 10th Attached 7th Battalion (the Duke of Albany’s) Seaforth Highlanders. 
 
He was noted as fighting in the theatres of Belgium and France up until 15th July 1916. He began as a Private, working his way up to Captain.
 
The Somme is known as one of the bloodiest battles in history, resulting in over a million casualties for all sides. In the first month, sixteen members of Univ were killed. 
William was killed in action whilst on patrol near Waterlot Farm in Longueval, Somme, France. Records state he “was shot by the enemy in trying to make them prisoner”. From the War Diary of 7 Bn. Seaforth Highlanders to whom he was attached.
 
He sadly has no known grave. His memorial is in Thiepval Memorial CWGC Cemetery/Memorial Somme, amongst 72,311 others.
 
Brook & Son:
Brook & Son were established in 1891 by William Brook and his son, Alexander James Steel Brook. They were later joined by Alexanders son, William Brook. 
 
Brook & Son were the successors to William Marshall & Sons for whom William Brook was a partner, being with the firm from 1853. AJS Brook has worked for them also, since 1873. 
 
They were located at 87 George Street, Edinburgh.
 
The company were holders of a Royal Warrant as Goldsmiths to Queen Victoria and king George V and were also Goldsmiths to the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland. 
 
As with any good jeweller, they were an early adopter of the wristwatch. Yet 1912 was especially early for Borgel style watches.
 
The watch is modelled on a 7” wrist circumference.
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
 
Dial: The dial is original and is very good condition for the age. It is formed of enamel with the bright white finish. The railroad track is good with the clear arabic numerals in black, with the red 12. The luminous plots are original.
 
Hands: The hands are original and are in good condition. They are of cathedral style with the thermally blued tone. They have been re-lumed with an aged tone. The sub-second hand is also original.
 
Glass: The glass would appear original, with the bevelled edge. It has some marking associated with age and scratching.
 
Crown: The crown is original and is in good condition with light marking associated with age.
 
Case: The case is formed of silver and is in very good original condition. It is a Borgel design with the coin edge screw bezel movement carrier and solid outer case. The bezel is in good condition with the defined coin edge. It has some marks associated with age. The case is good with the polished finish and light scratching. The lugs are original, good and thick.
 
Caseback: The solid case back is in good original condition with light surface scratching. It has the Personal engraving to the rear.
Inside of case back: The Inside of the case back is in good condition for the age, with the screw thread also good. It has slight marking with age. It has service etchings. The hallmarking has rubbed with age.
 
Strap: The watch is currently on an antique leather single piece strap.
 
Movement: The movement is a manual wind calibre. It has a jewel count of 15, with a frequency of 18,000 BPH. The movement has been recently serviced and has a daily variation on the wrist of 20 seconds a day.
 
Case dimensions:
Case width: 35mm
Case width with crown: 39.5mm
Case length: 35mm
Case length lug to lug: 41.5mm
Case Depth: 9.5mm
Lug width: 12mm