Peter Donaldson

Killed in Action on the 01/08/1917 near Frezenberg at the Battle of Pilckem Ridge (phase of the 3rd Battles of Ypres / Passchendaele)

Peter arrived at Boulogne with the 7th (Service) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders on the 10/05/1915. They were part of the 26th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. The 8th (Service) Battalion arrived at Boulogne in July 1915 and were part of the 44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division when Peter fell. Peter was killed near Frezenberg during the Battle of Pilckem Ridge which was the beginning of the Battles of Ypres (Passchendaele), 31st July - 10th November 1917 : The British finally got what they had wanted since 1914, the opportunity to attack at Ypres and breakout of the confines of the salient of trenches around it. Often known as the Third Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele, the offensive began with encouraging gains but terrible summer weather soon bogged it down. By August the offensive was clearly failing in its objectives and had descended into attritional fighting. New techniques by both sides led to agonisingly slow forward movement for the British, at enormous cost in casualties to both sides. Bad weather in October led to the battlefield becoming an impossible quagmire. SEE PHOTOS x 16 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY JULY - AUGUST 1917. Peter was wounded twice and was in Hospital in France in July 1916, suffering from gunshot wounds in the right arm and leg. He was previously gassed at Loos in 1915. He was a prominent boxer and member of the Monkland Athletic Club in Airdrie. He won the Monkland Cup and he also won a silver trophy when boxing in France with the Highland Brigade. He also boxed 15 times for the Prince of Wales Aid Fund. Peter is also remembered on the Trinity Parish Church Roll of Honour and on the Airdrie War Memorial x 2 (see photos). See photos for Peter's Medal Index Card, inside the Menin Gate Memorial, Peter's name on the Menin Gate Memorial x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial Panel List, Peter's Pension Records x 3 and the Seaforth Highlanders Cap Badge. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 6 (Coatbridge Express x 2, Coatbridge Leader x 2 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 2). a map showing the gradual eastwards advance from Ypres, the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, an advanced British 18 pounder Royal Field Artillery gun battery taking up new positions close to a communication trench near Boesinghe, 31 July 1917, PHOTOS x 35 FOR THE 15th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK 16th JUNE - 3rd AUGUST 1917 and the 15th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 13 (the Division he was with when he died).