202729 Private
4/5th Battalion Black Watch, 118t Infantry Brigade, 39th Division
Age: U/K
Date of Death: 27.9.17
Buried: Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 94 to 96
Family history: Husband of Mary Ann they lived at 15 Bute Street, Falkirk with their four children.
The action leading to his death
The battalion was involved in the fighting during Third Ypres. On the morning of 26 September the 118th Brigade attacked the ridge to the left of Tower Hamlets, the 4/5th being on the right of the Brigade attack. The attack was not successful with no definite advance being made, since the state of the ground made the maintenance of communications under heavy hostile artillery fire extremely difficult. The result of thirty six hours of fighting was that the British line was pushed forward a little in some places, but it was found impossible to form a definite line on the positions won.
The 4/5th casualties were Officers: 1 killed, four wounded and three missing. Other Ranks: 19 killed, 114 wounded, and 95 missing. A total of eight officers and 228 other ranks. George would have known Private William Nicoll from Camelon who was killed in the same action https://www.theypressalient.com/post/william-nicoll
(War Diary 4/5th Battalion - Table showing casualties by company during action at Tower Hamlets)
Medals Awarded:
The British War Medal, Victory Medal.
