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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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John Thomson
Private John Thomson, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Polmont, Falkirk On the 28 September 1918 the Battalion was involved in the opening attack of what the official nomenclature listed as The Final Breakout: Battle of Ypres 28 September to 2 October 1918. The Battalion was in the Vierstraat Line opposite the German line at Wytschaete and attacked at 3.30am on the morning of 28 September under enemy shell fire. By 6.30am ‘A’ company had taken Red Chateau with eight prisoners
Dec 17, 20232 min read
Colin Hunter Stein
2nd Lieutenant Colin Hunter Stein, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Polmont, Falkirk On the 24 May the Battalion relieved the 1/Royal Warwicks in the line extending from Wieltje to St Julien road some 400 yards south with the 2/Dublin Fusiliers on their left and the 1/Royal Scots Fusiliers on their right. The 5/Border’s, attached to the Argyll’s for trench instruction, provided fifty per cent of the battalion strength.
Nov 8, 20232 min read
Thomas Wilson
Gunner Thomas Wilson. Royal Garrison Artillery, Polmont The Siege Batteries were employed behind the front line and their role was to destroy enemy artillery, supply routes, railways and stores and putting down fire on strong points. They were equipped with Howitzer guns firing large calibre 6, 8, or 9.2inch shells in a high trajectory. Some batteries were also equipped with huge 12 inch railway or road mounted howitzers. The death notice in the Falkirk Herald reports that he
Oct 4, 20211 min read
James Wilson Small
Private James Small, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Polmont, On the left, the Argylls, who were in touch with the 55th Brigade, 18th Division to their left, had been unable to keep pace with the barrage due to the impassable condition of the ground. The two right companies ’A’ and ’C’ and its supporting company had maintained direction, but ’B’ and ’D’ had swung to the left and some men, crossing the Lekkerboterbeek, so churned up by shell fire that it was unrecognisable, h
Oct 3, 20213 min read
Matthew Shutt
Corporal Matthew Shutt, 5th Battalion, (Royal Irish) Lancers, 3rd Cavalry Brigade, Polmont. He was employed as a Vanman and was a reservist of four years when war began having previously served eight years with the colours.
Oct 1, 20211 min read
Robert Shepherd
Private Robert Shepherd, Gordon Highlanders transferred to 2/14th London Regiment (London Scottish), Polmont. His medal index card records that he was initially recruited to the Royal Army Medical Corps and then transferred to the Gordon Highlanders. He died serving in the 2/14th London Regiment (London Scottish). He is buried next to Corporal Francis Crombie, from Stenhousemuir who was also served with Robert in the RAMC.
Sep 19, 20212 min read
James Mill
Private James Mill, 17th Battalion Royal Scots, Polmont. Before he enlisted James was employed as a miner at Manuelrigg Colliery. He enlisted on 4 June 1915 and was posted to the training battalion depot from there he was posted to France on 17 September 1915 joining the 12th Reinforcement Battalion. He was sent back to the UK on 24 November 1915 suffering from Trench feet. He returned to France on 3 February 1916 and went to the 12th Reinforcement Battalion
Sep 11, 20212 min read
William McAlonan
Gunner William McAlonan, 81st Battery, 5th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, Polmont. He was a native of Dalry, Ayrshire and before the war was employed as a miner at Fauldhouse.
Although not a resident of Falkirk and District his name is listed on the Polmont War Memorial. Not an uncommon occurrence and it would have been in all likelihood his sister who put him on the memorial list. He enlisted in Glasgow on 5 January 1915 aged 21 years joining the Royal Artillery.
Sep 10, 20212 min read
William Sharpe Love
Private William Sharpe Love, 246th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), Polmont. Husband of Jeanie Thomson Irving Love, Polmont. They had two children James and William. Son of James & Sarah Love, Airdrie.
Sep 5, 20211 min read
James Keigan
Private James Keigan, 8/10th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, Polmont. James was employed as a farm labourer before he enlisted in May 1915 and went to France in October 1915. He had spent a period of time convalescing at home as a result of trench foot and returned to the front line in November 1916. His elder brother was serving in Egypt and was on the troop ship ‘Invernia’ when that ship was torpedoed on New Years Day 1917.
Sep 5, 20211 min read
James Johnston
L/Cpl James Johnston, ‘B’ Company, 17th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Reg), Polmont. Before enlisting, aged 21, in Glasgow on 21 October 1915 he was employed as a Clerk at Whiterigg Colliery. His brother Peter was serving with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. James was transferred to the 15th Training Reserve Battalion at Woolwich on 26 October 1915. As a conscript James was allocated to the 15th Training Reserve Battalion (TR).
Sep 4, 20212 min read
William Hogg Gibb
Private William Hogg Gibb, 2nd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, Polmont. He was employed as a Sawyer, someone who saws wood, before he enlisted on 30 September 1916. He lists his age as 17 years and 11 months on his Attestation form. As a conscript he was allocated to the 79th Battalion Training Reserve and initially posted to the Army Reserve and was mobilized on 16 February 1917 and joined the Army on 17 Feb 1917 in the Training Reserve and went to Montrose to st
Sep 4, 20213 min read
John Caldwell
Private John Caldwell, 16th Battalion Royal Scots, Polmont. He lived on Main Street, Old Polmont with his sister Jemima. Before he enlisted he was a Market Gardiner. He enlisted on 10 December 1915 and was posted to the Army Reserve and was mobilized on 20 October 1917 joining the Royal Scots. He joined the 16th Battalion in France on 18 March 1918.
Sep 2, 20212 min read
Peter Bennie
L/Cpl Peter Bennie, 13th Battalion Royal Scots, Polmont. The Battalion was part of the Fifth Army attack on 31 July 1917, in what became known as the Battle of Passchendaele. The 13th Royal Scots, as part of 45 Infantry Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division, were involved in the assault on the German lines at Frezenberg Ridge. The task of 15th Division was to seize the ridge near Frezenberg and then to push on to a rise to the north east of Frezenberg known as Hill 35.
Sep 2, 20212 min read
Thomas Adam
Private Thomas Adam, Highland Light Infantry, Polmont, Falkirk The 12th Battalion Highland Light Infantry were engaged in the advance towards the town of Wervik and were involved in heavy fighting suffering a large number of casualties. The War Diary entry puts this down to the lack of artillery support. At 06.15 on 30 September 1918 the Battalion advanced between the towns of Zandvoorde and Ten Brielen. On the right of the 18th HLI with the 15th Cheshire’s being in right su
Feb 20, 20211 min read
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