William and the Battalion arrived in France on the 10/05/1915 and were part of the 27th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. William died of gunshot wounds to the back and lung in the General Hospital in Etaples. His wounds were probably received at the 1st Battle of the Scarpe, 9th - 14th April 1917 or the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe, 23rd - 24th April 1917. These Battles were part of the Arras offensive, 1917 (Battle of Arras), 9th April -16th June 1917 : Once again the British are called upon to launch an attack in support to a larger French offensive : the Battles of the Chemin des Dames and the hills of Champagne. The opening Battle of Vimy and the 1st Battle of the Scarpe are very encouraging, but once again the offensive - often known as the Battle of Arras - bogs down into an attritional slog. Final attempts to outflank the German lines at Bullecourt prove terribly costly. William originally enlisted in the 3rd Battalion Royal Scots (6518) on the 19/07/1896 in Edinburgh. He rose through the ranks during his 21 year Military career and passed through the South African campaign without injury. He was appointed Lieutenant at the outbreak of war and was made Temporary Captain on the 28/09/1915. William was awarded the Military Cross on New Years Day 1917 for distinguished bravery in the field. William was in Coatbridge a few months before his death looking forward to a speedy termination of the War. Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. William is also remembered on the Coatbridge Baptist Church Roll of Honour. See photos for William's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping x 4, his Attestation Papers (1896) x 3, his entitlement to the Kings South Africa Medal, his entitlement to the South Africa Medal and Clasps, his British Army Records x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, Etaples Military Cemetery, the Royal Scots Cap Badge and William's Pension Record. William's grave inscription reads "BELOVED THOU ART GONE BEFORE WHERE THE TEARS CAN FALL NO MORE".
