Adam Maxwell Innes

Killed in Action on the 27/09/1918 at the Battle of the Canal du Nord

On the 11/05/1915 the Battalion were part of the 156th Brigade, 52nd (Lowland) Division. They sailed from Liverpool on the 24/05/1915, going via Egypt to Gallipoli, arriving there on the 14/06/1915. On the 01/07/1915, after taking heavy casualties, they temporarily merged with the 1/8th Battalion. They resumed their identity on the 21/02/1916. In January 1916 they moved via Mudros to Egypt. On the 17/04/1918 they moved with the Division and landed at Marseilles for service in France. Adam fell at the Battle of the Canal du Nord, 27th September - 1st October 1918. The 52nd (Lowland) Division had been so reduced in numbers during the preceding weeks that its task was reduced to getting across the Canal du Nord and making for the Hindenburg Support line on a 500 metre frontage. By 07:30 hours (Zero had been 05:20 hours) the canal banks had been cleared and by 11:00 hours a bridge, capable of supporting artillery, had been put across the canal on the Graincourt road. SEE PHOTOS x 20 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY SEPTEMBER 1918. The Battalion War Diary states casualties for the 27th September were : 3 Officers Killed, 1 Wounded. 8 Other Ranks Killed, 29 Wounded and 11 Missing. 474 Prisoners of War captured and casualties for the month of September 1918 were : 4 Officers Killed, 8 Wounded. 30 Other Ranks Killed, 118 Wounded, 25 Wounded (Gas) and 7 Missing. This was a phase of The Battles of the Hindenburg Line, 12th September - 12th October 1918 : A series of very large scale offensive operations that advance to and break the Hindenburg Line system. Carried out by the First, Third and Fourth Armies these victories rank among the greatest-ever British military achievements. The German Army fights on but it is increasingly clear that their ability to do so is declining fast. At 5.20 on the morning of the 27th September, all four Divisions attacked under total darkness, taking the German defenders of the 1st Prussian Guards Reserve Division and the 3rd German Naval Division by absolute surprise. By mid-morning, all defenders had retreated or been captured. Stiffening resistance east of the canal proved that only a surprise attack had the possibility of ending in victory. SEE PHOTOS x 34 FOR THE 52nd (LOWLAND) DIVISION BOOK SEPTEMBER 1918. The book states : "The company of 7th Cameronians referred to had lost heavily in crossing the canal, and only one of its officers was left. It was reinforced by another company from its own unit, which by this time had also crossed the canal. The whole of the 7th Cameronians now pressed southward, continuing the clearing process. Lance-Cpl. J. Clark rushed one German machine- gun post single-handed, killing or capturing all within it. This is one incident of many. After a while their advance was delayed, because of heavy machine- gun fire, which came from the ridge to the west, where the men of the 63rd Division were held up in their work of clearing the Hindenburg support line. However, the Cameronians got into the trenches and bombed their way along, so that by 2.30 p.m. they had reached a point about 1000 yards south of the Bapaume- Cambrai road, and were in touch with the Guards. En route they had taken about 200 prisoners, who surrendered practically without a fight. By 2.30 p.m. the 63rd Division was again advancing along the Hindenburg support line, and the 7th Cameronians cleared the ground south of the Bapaume- Cambrai road as far east as the wire of that system". A Chaplain wrote that Adam died "immediately without suffering". He is also remembered on the Maxwell Parish Church Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for Adam's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2 and his Headstone Report x 2, Adam's Pension Record x 2, Moeuvres British Cemetery, another photo of Adam's grave and the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge and Adam's Pension Records x 2. Adam's grave inscription reads "IN GOD WE TRUST". Finally, see photos x 12 for the 52nd (Lowland) Division Order of Battle (the Division he was serving with when he died) and Newspaper clippings x 3 (Coatbridge Express x 2 and the Coatbridge Leader x 1).