Henry Dow

Killed in Action 29/07/1918 during the Battle of the Soissonais and of the Ourcq. The Division captured the Bagneux Ridge (part of the Battles of the Marne 1918)

The Battalion sailed from Liverpool on 24/05/1915 for service at Gallipoli and landed on the 06/06/1915. In January 1916 they moved via Mudros to Egypt. They landed at Marseilles for service in France on the 17/04/1918 and were part of the 103rd (Tyneside Irish) Brigade, 34th Division when Henry fell. Battle of the Soissonais and of the Ourcq (Battles of the Marne 1918), 23rd July - 2nd August 1918 : "At 4.10 am on the 28/07/1918 fog covered the ground, but the leading line, in which were the 1/8th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and 1/5th King's Own Scottish Borderers of the 103rd Brigade, and the 1/4th Royal Sussex and 2/4th Queen's of the 101st Brigade, each on a two-company front, pushed forward through a German barrage, which fell two hundred yards in front of the starting line and contained a belt of tear-gas. Good progress of over a mile was made; so towards 6am a short halt was ordered. When further advances were made at a number of places, as far as the Bois de Bagneux (west of the village) and Point 189, north-west of the village, the Germans counter attacked. After a long deadlock and a struggle against machine-gun fire, the troops fell back about 2pm to the position gained at the first advance". This was a phase of the Battles of the Marne, 20th July - 2nd August 1918 : A British force takes part in Foch's very large scale and highly successful counter offensive of the Marne, which proves to be the start of an unbroken series of Allied successes. Henry's Division captured the Bagneux Ridge. Henry was formerly with the 16th (Service Battalion (2nd Glasgow) Highland Light Infantry (43637) and originally was with the 12th Reserve Brigade, 53rd Training Reserve Battalion, 9th (Reserve) Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers (40084) which became the 53rd Young Soldier Battalion in May 1917. Possibly Henry's brother Private Charles Dow Cameron Highlanders listed on the Dundyvan Parish Church Roll of Honour (same address, see photos). Also see photos for Henry's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his name on the Soissons Memorial x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Soissons Memorial Panel List, Henry's Pension Records x 2, his former Regiment the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge and the King's Own Scottish Borderers Cap Badge. Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 24 FOR THE BATTALION HISTORY BOOK FROM JULY - EARLY AUGUST 1918, PHOTOS x 8 FOR THE BATTALION HISTORY BOOK REGARDING CASUALTIES (lists ALL casualties for the Battalion with Henry included), PHOTOS x 15 OF THE 34th DIVISION ORDER OF BATTLE (the Division who he was with when he died) and PHOTOS x 17 FOR THE 34th DIVISION BOOK 27th JUNE - 4th AUGUST 1918.