David Whyte Halkett

Private David Whyte Halkett

18521 Private

2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, 1st Guards Brigade, Guards Division

Age:

Date of Death: 24.9.17

Buried: Bleuet Farm Cemetery I.E.44

Family history: Husband of Janet, 7 Fankerton, Denny. They had four children. Prior to enlisting he was employed by the Carrongrove Paper Co. Ltd, Denny.

The action leading to his death

The 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards were in billets at Cambridge Camp 200 yards west of Bleuet Farm. In a letter to his wife Lieutenant W B St Leger, David’s Platoon Commander, wrote that a shell burst in the middle of the Platoon killing ten men instantly and wounding several others. He went on: ‘Your husband had always done very well. He was a brave man, and a good soldier, and will be very much missed. There was a funeral service at 4 the same afternoon, and he was buried with ten of his comrades, one of the wounded having died of wounds.’

Trench map showing the camps and rail links around Bleuet Farm

Men of the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards killed in the shell explosion

The War Diary recorded

Graves Registration Report (CWGC site) showing the ten Coldstream Guards casualties buried together on 24 September 1917.

Medals Awarded:

The British War Medal, Victory Medal

Private David Whyte Halkett, 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, Medal Index Card