William Nicoll

Tyne Cot Memorial. Authors image

292788 Private

4/5th Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), 118th Infantry Brigade, 39th Division

Age: 20

Date of Death: 27.9.17

Buried: Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 94 to 96

Family history: Son of David and Janet Nicoll, 106 Sunnyside Street, Camelon.

The action that lead 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.

(Trench Map showing the approximate British front line on 14 Sept 1917)

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.

(War Diary 4/5th Battalion - Table showing casualties by company during action at Tower Hamlets)

Medals Awarded:

The British War Medal, Victory Medal

Private William Nicoll, 4/5th Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), Medal Index Card