306 Sgt
‘D’ Coy, 2nd Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 19th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Division
Age: 24
Date of Death: Killed in action 10 November 1914
Buried: Ploegsteert Memorial, Panel 9 & 10
Family history: The son of John and Janet Brand, 58 Grahamsdyke Terrace, Laurieston, Falkirk. He had four sisters and two brothers. He was 18 years old when he joined the army in 1909 serving 5 years and 184 days before being killed in action. Before enlisting he was employed as a mason to trade. He was also an athlete, a Sunday School teacher, a member of the choir in the local Established Church in Laurieston and a member of the Guild, and held office in the Rechabites
The Action leading to his death
The battalion was in the line at Ploegsteert Wood. On the morning of the 9th November they were advised that they would be attacking the German lines on 10 November. A & D Company’s were between St Yves and the Le Gheer road and the edge of the wood, behind the Lancashire Fusiliers trench and began the advance. ‘D’ company objective was the North West angle of quadrangle C. After arriving at a burning house Captain W A Henderson (officer commanding ‘D’ Coy) gave the order to charge but was hit and fell. ‘D’ Company then lost direction and with ‘A’ Company attacked quadrangle B. Lt Clark with half of ‘B’ Company was in support of ‘D’ Company and when the attack failed he collected men from ‘A’ and ‘D’ and with his half company led them round the burning house and again tried to attack the trenches about B. The attack failed and retired to trenches evacuated by ‘A’ Company. The battalion was ordered to take up a position in the support trenches in the wood. Of the 330 men engaged the casualties were 3 officers missing, 1 officer wounded, other ranks 10 killed, 71 wounded, and 45 missing.
(Map from Battalion War Diary)
