250749 Private
5th/6th Battalion Royal Scots, 14th Brigade, 32nd Division
Age: 25
Date of Death: 27.2.18
Buried: Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 11 to 14
Family history: Son of James and Annie Hastie, Woodend Cottage, Bridgeness, Bo’ness. He had two brothers James and Robert and four sisters Margaret, Annie, Bethia and Mary. Prior to enlisting on 2 December 1914, he was employed at the Bridgeness timber yards.
He enlisted in the 2/5th Battalion Royal Scots, a Territorial Battalion, on 2 December 1914. Interestingly he spent the period 28 December to 30 January 1915, in the 2nd Scottish General Hospital with tonsillitis. He volunteered for overseas service arriving in France on 7 May 1916, and joined the Battalion from the Base Depot on 28 May 1916. He enjoyed a leave at home from 12 to 22 September 1917 before returning to his battalion.
The action leading to his death
The Battalion was at Mondovi Farm, near Houthulst Forest, and took part in a raid on the German line the aim of which was to kill or capture as many Germans as possible.
(Linesman Map showing trench positions at 6 March 1918. Mondovi Farm is in the bottom left on the map & the German positions are in red top right.)
The War Diary recorded that it was a successful raid penetrating in great depth into Houthulst Forest, capturing prisoners and a machine gun. The Battalion Other Ranks casualties were 3 killed and 34 wounded. Andrew being one of the killed.
(War Diary excerpt)
Medals
The British War Medal, Victory Medal
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