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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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Alexander Taylor
Sapper Alexander Taylor, 202nd Field Company Royal Engineers, Bonnybridge, The 202nd Field Company was working on repairing bridges over the Werviq to Comines canal, the plank road, and in placing pontoon bridges over the River Lys in support of the advance. This was dangerous work being out in the open and in daylight. The men were subjected to enemy artillery fire and air attack.
Dec 16, 20231 min read
William Carson
L/Cpl William Carson, Queens Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), Bonnybridge, The Battalion was holding the trenches at Wulverghem in front of Messines Ridge. Battalion HQ was in Kandahar Farm. The War diary records reliefs but no casualties. One can only assume that William was a victim of trench wastage and he is buried in Dranoutre Military Cemetery which was used by fighting units and Field Ambulances, many of the dead are from the 72nd Infantry Brigade, 24th Division in Plot
Jun 29, 20221 min read
Thomas Young
Private Thomas Young, Machine Gun Corps, Bonnybridge, The 20th Division was involved in the Third Ypres and the phase known as the Battle of Langemarck. Numerous local raids had provided bridgeheads across the Steenbeek along much of the front, including at Au Bon Gite, a blockhouse on the Langemarck road some 200 yards beyond the stream which still held out. To the right of the Ypres to Staden railway 20th Division had the desolation and ruins of Langemarck in front of them
Jun 26, 20223 min read
John Vincent
Private John Vincent, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Bonnybridge,
Jun 24, 20221 min read
Duncan Stewart Stalker
Private Duncan Stewart Stalker, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Bonnybridge, The battalion were in Dirty Bucket Camp resting and providing working parties. The War Diary entry for 4 September records that ‘2 OR’s killed and 17 OR’s wounded.’ Duncan died of wounds received to the chest and left arm. In a letter to his parents an officer wrote: ‘I have very bad news for you. Your boy was killed this afternoon about 3.30. He, along with others in D Company, had been employed ne
Jun 24, 20222 min read
John Reilly
Private John Reilly, 2nd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, The Battalion was in the line at Ploegsteert Wood. On the morning of the 9th November they were advised that they would be attacking the German lines on 10 November. A & D Company’s were between St Yves and the Le Gheer road and the edge of the wood, behind the Lancashire Fusiliers trench and began the advance. ‘D’ company objective was the North West angle of quadrangle C.
Jun 22, 20222 min read
James Cunningham Porteous
Private James Cunningham Porteous, Seaforth Highlanders, Bonnybridge, 10th Brigade, 4th Division, April 1915
Jun 20, 20221 min read
Alexander Pettigrew
Private Alexander Pettigrew, Highland Light Infantry, Battle of the Lys, Bonnybridge, Operation Georgette, to the Germans, or the Battle of the Lys to the British, opened on 9 April 1918. This was a large scale battle with a front line of some 37km’s that stretched from the La Bassee Canal almost to the gates of Ypres. Casualties on the British and commonwealth side totalled 82,000 dead, wounded, missing or taken prisoner.
Jun 20, 20222 min read
Michael Muirhead
Driver Michael Muirhead, Ammunition Column Guards Division, Royal Field Artillery, The Guards artillery were firing in support of the Guards Division attack Pilkem Ridge.
Jun 19, 20221 min read
Alexander McTaggart
Private Alexander McTaggart, Machine Gun Corps, Battle of Messines, On 7 June 74th Machine Gun Company had taken up position in the assembly trenches at 3.10am four guns went forward with the battalion attack with three coming into action at Nutmeg Reserve trench with the War Diary recording that the team of the fourth gun had been put out of action. At 3.30am the remaining four guns of the Company went forward and were in action at October Support trench and incurred casualt
Jun 19, 20223 min read
James McLay
Guardsman James McLay, Scots Guards, Third Battle of Ypres, Bonnybridge, On the 14 September the Battalion was in the line at the Broenbeek. The German artillery was active as were enemy aircraft firing at their posts with machine guns. A Battalion patrol went out and went up the Staden Railway where they encountered an enemy post and were fired on with machine guns and bombs. The patrol returned with one casualty.
Jun 18, 20221 min read
Robert McColgan
Private Robert McColgan, Irish Guards, First Battle of Ypres 1914, He was the first reservist to leave Bonnybridge. The Battalion was engaged in the First Battle of Ypres and on 26 October in an attack towards Reutel with the assistance of the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards. Both Battalions advanced to the attack at 5.30am but could not make any headway against the German machine gun fire.
Jun 18, 20221 min read
Allan Low
Private Allan Low, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 15th (Scottish) Division, Bonnybridge,The 15th (Scottish) Division was moved forward to support the attack on Frezenberg Ridge. The attack of the 16th (Irish) Division had stalled in front of the German strong points at Beck House and Borry Farm. On the 17 August 46th Brigade took over the whole of the right sector of V Corps front from the 16th (Irish) Division.
Jun 18, 20222 min read
David Hunter
Gunner David Hunter, Royal Field Artillery, Bonnybridge, In late August and early September 1917, the Divisional artillery was supplying fire support to the Divisions efforts to push the line forward at positions around Schuler Farm and Aisne Farm near St Julien. David was wounded in a gas attack on 11 September and taken to Mendinghem Casualty Clearing Station, the names of the CCS’s reflected the dark humour of the Tommy and they found their way into the vocabulary of the t
Jun 18, 20222 min read
David Hulme
Sergeant David Hulme, 10th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Bonnybridge, The 10th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders took over the front line trenches east of Sanctuary Wood, which at that time still resembled a wood and was full of thick undergrowth. At one point on the front the trenches were only 20 yards apart and the enemy occupied a position known as the ‘Birdcage’. It had a wooden framework with wire netting and a trapdoor on top....
Jun 17, 20222 min read
Joseph Patrick Henley
Private Joseph Patrick Henley, Royal Irish Fusiliers, 16th (Irish) Division, Bonnybridge, The division was to attack with the 48th and 49th Brigades, and they faced a formidable array of blockhouses, at Potsdam, Vampir Farm, Borry Farm, Beck House, Iberian, Pommern Castle, that guarded the approaches to the Wilhelm Stellung.
Jun 16, 20222 min read
James Henderson
Private James Henderson, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Bonnybridge, The Battalion was in the line in the north sector of the Salient at Houthulst Forest. The War Diary recorded that ‘… B,A,D Company’s in the outpost line and ‘C’ Company was in support’ At 3.55am the Germans launched a series of attacks on the outposts. Lieutenant Wallace of ’D’ Company attempted to fire the SOS for artillery support however, the flare failed to explode....
Jun 15, 20222 min read
Robert Graham
Sapper Robert Graham, Royal Engineers, Bonnybridge, The company was engaged in repairing dugouts on the Knoll Road near Hill 60.
Jun 14, 20221 min read
William Gentles
Private William Gentles, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Bonnybridge, On 7 November 1914 The Battalion was engaged in an attack to retake trenches lost to the Germans at Ploegsteert Wood.
Jun 14, 20221 min read
David Fernie
Sergeant David Fernie, 1/7th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Bonnybridge, The 1/7th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders were engaged in a trench raid on the German trenches at Morteldje on 24 July. This was comprised of 3 Officers and 70 other ranks.
Jun 13, 20222 min read
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