S/9989 Private
1/5th Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 103rd Infantry Brigade, 34th Division
Age: 26
Date of Death: Killed in Action 28.9.18
Buried: Tyne Cot Memorial, Panel 141 to 143 https://www.theypressalient.com/post/tyne-cot-cemetery-and-memorial
Family history: Son of Robert and Maria Morton, 22 Firs Street, Falkirk. Robert had four brothers and four sisters. Prior to enlisting he was employed as a brass finisher at a local foundry.
The action leading to his death
34th Division was part of the allied offensive, launched on 28 September 1918. The advance began at 5.30am on the 28th September, by strong patrols under cover of a smoke barrage. The 5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders took Red Chateau at 6.30am and by 10am its line ran north and south through Grand Bois to Northern Brickstacks with Battalion HQ in the centre of Grand Bois at 2pm. By 3.30pm good progress had been made the Battalion captured Zero House, but were held up by machine gun fire from Wytschaete. The War Diary records the casualties as officers killed Lt. McGrory, 14 OR killed, 47 wounded and 23 OR missing. They had captured two anti-tank guns, trench mortar, one machine gun and a ‘few prisoners.’
Medals Awarded:
The British War Medal, Victory Medal.
