13237 L/Cpl
11th Battalion, Royal Scots, 27th Infantry Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division
Age:
Date of Death: Killed in Action 29.4.16
Buried: Rifle House Cemetery I.D.7
Family history: The son of James and Janet Lamond, Bridgehill, Avonbridge. He was employed as a miner at Muiravonside Colliery before enlisting.
For his part in defending a trench during the Battle of Loos in 1915, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. When he was home on leave the village organised a celebration to recognise his heroism and the honour it had brought to the district. At the well attended meeting he received a large amount of gifts from the community. The meeting was presided over by the local minister Reverend J R Garvie who said that: ‘.. Private Lamond had brought fame and glory to the district, and carved out for himself a niche in the temple of fame.’
The action leading to his death
The 11th Battalion were in the line at Ploegsteert Wood, known to the Tommies as ’Plugstreet’, on the southern edge of the Ypres Salient and they were in this sector until the end of May 1916. They occupied the trenches at Le Gheer opposite a German strong point known as the ‘Birdcage’. Much of their time was spent on improving the trenches, the Regimental history records that: ’ the men flattered themselves that as a result of their efforts their trenches were the best in France.’ They also assisted the sappers of the Royal Engineers who were preparing a mine, the Regimental history speculating that this was blown with nineteen others on 7 June 1917. They were also active in No Man’s Land at night with patrols, the British liked to dominate No Man’s Land. The German snipers were very active as was regularly recorded in the War Diary. The Battalion moved in and out of the line being relieved and relieving other Battalions.
(Linesman Map showing trenches at Le Gheer)
On the 27 April, they relieved the 8th Battalion, Black Watch with the War Diary recording that: ‘Quiet day but we had 3 men wounded by enemy snipers.’ One of the wounded was David who subsequently died of his wounds. The Falkirk Herald reporting:
Medals Awarded
D.C.M. 1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Headstone
