ADDITIONAL FAMILY INFORMATION - From the 1881 Census - Address - Dundyvan Rd, Coatbridge - Thomas Rae aged 42, Christina Rae aged 36, James Rae aged 20, half-brother Robert Brown aged 17, half-sister Christina Brown aged 13, Thomas Rae aged 12, half-sister Jane Brown aged 11, half-brother Alexander Brown aged 9, John Rae aged 6, Archibald Rae aged 3. The Z11th Trench Mortar Battery were part of the Divisional Artillery, 11th (Northern) Division. Archibald arrived in Egypt on the 01/04/1915. Archibald was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry in action the day before he was Killed. He died instantaneously whilst encouraging his men under heavy fire. The Division was involved in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (a month before Archibald fell) on the 15th - 22nd September 1916 : This was a large-scale general renewal of the offensive after the weeks of attritional fighting for the third German system at Pozieres, High Wood, Delville Wood, Guillemont and Ginchy. It is historically noteworthy for being the first time that tanks were used in battle. Few in number, mechanically unreliable and as yet without proven tactics for their best use, the small numbers of tanks that actually went into action had an important positive effect. High Wood and Delville Wood were finally cleared, and a deep advance was made to Flers and towards Combles. The Canadian Corps entered the Somme fighting for the first time. This was part of the Battles of the Somme, 1st July - 18th November 1916 : A Franco-British offensive that was undertaken after Allied strategic conferences in late 1915, but which changed its nature due to the German attack against the French in the epic Battle of Verdun, which lasted from late February to November. Huge British losses on the first day and a series of fiercely contested steps that became attritional in nature. For all armies on the Western Front it was becoming what the Germans would call "materialschlacht" : a war not of morale, will or even manpower, but of sheer industrial material might. The 15th September 1916 saw the first-ever use of tanks in the step known as the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. The British army in France is now approaching its maximum strength in numbers but is still developing in terms of tactics, technology, command and control. Archibald was 19 years in the Army and was a lifelong Temperance Advocate and was decorated 13 times for his efforts in getting recruits to join the Good Templar Order in the Army. See Directory for Archibald's elder brother John's page. Archibald's Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. See Newspaper clippings 2 and 3 for letters to Archibald's mother from E. M. Gifford and the Officer Commanding 2nd Lieutenant W. H. Brown. Archibald is also remembered on the Dundyvan Parish Church Roll of Honour with his brother John (see photos) and in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for Archibald's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 3, his name on the 1911 England Census when serving with the 4th Depot Royal Field Artillery in Fareham, Hampshire, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Auchonvillers Military Cemetery, the Royal Field Artillery Cap Badge and Archibald's Pension Records x 2. His grave inscription reads "IN REMEMBRANCE OF MY DEAR SON BY HIS WIDOWED MOTHER".
