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Welcome to the Ypres Salient
This site presents the story of the First World War in the West Flanders region. The various categories provide a wealth of information about a range of subjects.
The Roll of Honour category is where you will find the details of all the men from Falkirk District who are buried or commemorated in the Immortal Salient.
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David Marr Boslem
Private David Marr Boslem, Highland Light Infantry, Bo'ness, The 14th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry (HLI) were at Nouveau Monde, along with the 10th/11th Battalion HLI, they were essentially in reserve on the river line. At 4am Nouveau Monde came under artillery fire and the Battalion was ordered to Stand To. At 4.45am the Battalion moved forward to defensive line as per the Brigade standing defence scheme.
Nov 3, 20223 min read
Alexander Williamson
Private Alexander Williamson, Hampshire Regiment, Bo'ness, FalkirkThe Battalion was involved in what became known as the Final Breakout, Battle of Ypres 28 September to 2 October 1918. On the 28 September they were in support of the assaulting Brigades and moved forward along the Menin Road and reached Gheluvelt were they came under machine gun fire.
Oct 31, 20222 min read
Andrew S Watters
Private Andrew S Watters, Highland Light Infantry, Bo'ness, Falkirk, The front of the 15th (Scottish) Division ran from Potijze road to the Roulers Railway, immediately facing Frezenberg Ridge. The 46th Brigade was on the left of the assault, 44th Brigade on the right with the 45th Brigade ready in reserve to exploit the advance made. The first objective was the enemy front and support lines, the second, the second line, and the third the defensive system fifteen hundred yard
Oct 31, 20222 min read
William White
Private William White, Royal Scots, Bo'ness, Falkirk, He enlisted in the 5th Battalion Royal Scots and saw action at Gallipoli being wounded twice. The second wound, a shrapnel wound to the right thigh, saw him sent back to the Deaconess Hospital in Edinburgh where he spent eight months. On recovering, he was posted to the 17th Battalion on 9 February 1917, and was wounded again this time being gassed and receiving a shell splinter wound.
Oct 31, 20222 min read
Richard King
Private Richard King, Royal Scots, Bo'ness, On the 24 April 1918, the Battalion was on a working party digging trenches on the new Poperinghe (now named Poperinge) Line. While passing through the town one man was killed and nine wounded (all ’B’ Company) by a shell. Richard was one of those wounded and was taken to the nearby Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Siding, Lijssenthoek. He died of his wounds.
Oct 30, 20221 min read
Peter Thomson
Private Peter Thomson, Machine Gun Corps, Bo'ness, The Battalion became involved in what was to be termed the Battle of the Lys or as the Germans called their offensive Operation Georgette. On the night of the 9/10 April the battalion was on the south side of the River Lys. At about 7am two attacks in great strength were launched by the Germans, northwards from Fleurbaix and east wards from Fort Rompu,the result being that the composite line held by the Royal Scots and the Su
Oct 29, 20222 min read
Gordon McArthur Hogg
Private Gordon McArthur Hogg, Highland Light Infantry, Bo'ness, The 10th/11th Battalion Highland Light Infantry (HLI) were at Nouveau Monde along with the 14th Battalion HLI they were essentially in reserve on the river line. ‘D’ Company and half of ‘B’ Company of the 10th/11th HLI were ordered to take up a line between Cockshy House, where it would link up with 151st Brigade of the 50th Northumbrian Division, and Levantie East Post. All six Platoons advanced and were never h
Oct 18, 20222 min read
William John Finlay
Private William John Finlay, Royal Scots, Bo'ness, Falkirk, The 2nd Royal Scots became involved in what was to be termed the Battle of the Lys or as the Germans called their offensive Operation Georgette. On the 12 April the Battalion, as part of 8th Brigade, were ordered to relieve 154 Brigade along a line that ran from Lawe south of Locon and up to La Tombe Willot. By 6am the Battalion was in position and by 10am the Germans were laying down a sustained and heavy artillery
Oct 18, 20222 min read
William Robb Wallace
Private William Robb Wallace, Royal Scots, Bo'ness, Falkirk, The 2nd Royal Scots became involved in what was to be termed the Battle of the Lys or as the Germans called their offensive Operation Georgette. On the 12 April the Battalion, as part of 8th Brigade, were ordered to relieve 154 Brigade along a line that ran from Lawe south of Locon and up to La Tombe Willot. By 6am the Battalion was in position and by 10am the Germans were laying down a sustained and heavy artillery
Oct 17, 20222 min read
Andrew Waldie
Private Andrew Waldie, Labour Corps, Bo'ness, Falkirk, June 1917 found the 1st ILC (12th Company, Labour Corps) located in the Dickebusch area working primarily on broad gauge and light railways, dangerous work that attracted attack from German heavy guns. Andrew was killed by shell fire when the Company was working in the field.
Oct 16, 20223 min read
Alexander McIntosh Thomson
Sergeant Alexander McIntosh Thomson, Royal Scots, Bo'ness, Falkirk, On the 22 October the Battalion was in the rear area at St Julien and were providing working parties for the forward areas. During this period hostile artillery and aircraft shelled and bombed the back areas and the approaches, causing many casualties to the reliefs and working parties between St Julien and the front line.
Oct 16, 20221 min read
David Tait
Private David Tait, Royal Scots, Bo'ness, Falkirk, The Battalion was in the line near Vierstraat and on the evening of 28 February/1March during a full moon, the Battalion was attempting a relief when it was caught by heavy enemy rifle fire 70 yards behind their own line. One Officer was killed going to the aid of a wounded man, and two Other Ranks were killed and nine wounded.
Oct 16, 20222 min read
Neil McCallum Stanners
Private Neil McCallum Stanners, Royal Scots, Bo'ness, Falkirk, The 22 August found the division preparing for an attack on the German positions at Frezenberg Ridge. For five days prior to the attack, harassing fire was kept up every night by both the artillery and machine-guns and in addition all known strong points had been targeted by the Heavy and Field Artillery. The attack was launched on 22 August at 4.45am under the cover of a creeping barrage and fire from thirty-two
Oct 16, 20222 min read
George Smith
Private George Smith, Royal Scots, Bo'ness, Falkirk, ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies in Taube Farm and neighbouring shell holes, ‘A’ company was positioned around Gravel Farm and ’B’ Company in shell holes around Turenne Crossing. At 5.35am the British artillery and machine guns opened a barrage on the German lines and the Battalion moved forward and Major C Anderson, Second-in-Command takes up the account: ‘Our positions were simply a line of shell holes full of water. The conditions
Oct 15, 20223 min read
Joseph Sheratt
Private Joseph Sheratt, Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, Bo'ness, On the 11 November 1914 the 1st Battalion, now part of the 1st Guards Brigade which also included the 1st Black Watch and the 1st Scots Guards and was commanded by Brigadier General Charles Fitzclarence VC, were in the line at Veldhoek and on this day the Germans launched a major attack on a 9-mile front with 12 Divisions with the aim of breaking the British line and taking Ypres. The day dawned with a mist cov
Oct 15, 20223 min read
Andrew Smart Sharp
Private Andrew Smart Sharp, Machine Gun Corps, Bo'ness, Falkirk, The line that the 22nd Brigade held ran over ground closely associated with the 7th Division, even if few of those still with it in October 1917 had helped to make history at Polygon Wood three years earlier. They took over a fraction of the line they held in 1914, roughly the north eastern edge of what, in 1914, had been Polygon Wood but now in 1917 had only a few stumps sticking out from its swampy and muddy
Oct 15, 20222 min read
David Rutherford
Private David Rutherford, Royal Scots, Bo'ness, Falkirk, The 22 August found the division preparing for an attack on the German positions at Frezenberg Ridge. For five days prior to the attack, harassing fire was kept up every night by both the artillery and machine-guns and in addition all known strong points had been targeted by the Heavy and Field Artillery. The attack was launched on 22 August at 4.45am under the cover of a creeping barrage and fire from thirty-two machi
Oct 14, 20222 min read
George Robertson
Private George Robertson, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), Bo'ness, Falkirk, On the 25 August 1917, an attempt was made by two companies of the 9th Black Watch to capture Gallipoli Farm, located on Hill 35 on Frezenberg Ridge. While this action was taking place, the 10th Cameronians engaged Beck House and Iberian Farm with rifle and Lewis gun fire. ‘C’ and ‘D’ Company’s sent forward a patrol in an attempt to reach Iberian Farm but found it strongly defended. George was killed d
Oct 14, 20221 min read
William Pow
Private Robert Pow, Royal Scots Fusiliers, Bo'ness, Falkirk, The Battalion reached the wire in front of the German block house redoubt known ‘Bremen Redoubt’ by which time most of its officers were casualties. By 11.30am the 6th Camerons were established in the third position and the Royal Scots Fusiliers had one company east of Potsdam Redoubt however, they were not in touch with the two just west of Bremen Redoubt, while the fourth company was well behind on the Ypres to Zo
Oct 13, 20223 min read
George Burnett Miller
Private George Burnett Miller, Royal Scots, Bo'ness, Falkirk, He was also a violinist in the Battalion band. He saw action in many of the early engagements and was wounded at First Ypres in November 1914, writing from hospital to his parents about how he came to be wounded: ‘… shells came tearing over. The first two or three went bang into our hospital, and others took bits out of the roof of the place I was in. Then one cannoned off the wall and burst in the centre of us.
Oct 9, 20223 min read
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