Hugh Borthwick Wilson

241730 Private

6th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 27th Infantry Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division.

Age: 19

Date of Death: 23.9.17

Buried: Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 66 to 68

https://www.theypressalient.com/post/tyne-cot-cemetery-and-memorial

Family history: Son of Janet Borthwick Wilson, 15 Howgate, Falkirk. Hugh had an elder brother Robert who was serving with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, and a younger brother, and three sisters. Prior to enlisting in August 1916 he was employed as a fitter at the Port Downie Iron Works. 

The action leading to his death

The Battalion was involved in what the battle nomenclature names as the Battle of the Menin Road 20  September to 26 September. The battalion had taken up their jump off positions in front of the buildings listed on the British trench maps as ‘Kit & Kat’. The attack opened at 5.40am with the whole battalion moving forward towards the Hannebeek wood.

Linesman

The wood was taken at 6.20am and the battalion reorganized and moved forward to their final objective of the Zonnebeke Redoubt. The attack went in at 8am and the Redoubt was taken without much resistance and the work of consolidating the position was begun. The Germans heavily shelled the front lines and support lines and enemy aircraft were very active dropping bombs on the support lines.

The War Diary records the battalion casualties as: 8 Officers wounded, Other Ranks 26 killed, 200 wounded, and 27 missing.

Medals Awarded:

The British War Medal, Victory Medal.