George McQueen Topping

The Battalion arrived in France in May 1915 and were part of the 27th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. George died in the General Hospital, Bury St. Edmunds, West Suffolk on the 31/10/1917 from wounds received on the 12/10/1917 at the 1st Battle of Passchendaele which was part of the Battles of Ypres, 1917 (Third Ypres) 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 10 FOR THE 11th BATTALION WAR DIARY (3) AND PRELIMINARY INSTRUCTIONS (1), OPERATION ORDER (2) AND REPORT OF OPERATIONS (3) FOR OCTOBER 1917 (also see photos x 6 for information from the History of the 9th (Scottish) Division book). George enlisted as a Private and was appointed Lance Corporal on the 19/06/1917. George was buried at home. The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the right buttock and left knee which led to a haemorrhage and continued septicaemia. On the 12/10/1918 George was admitted to the Division's 28th Field Ambulance after his injuries and then to the 4th Casualty Clearing Station, North of Boisleux-au-Mont, West of Mercatel. On the 18/10/1917 George was admitted to the 54th General Hospital at the coastal town of Wimereux. On the 24/10/1917 George was aboard H.M. Hospital Ship "Princess Elizabeth" returning home and was admitted to the General Hospital at Bury St. Edmonds on the 25th. Sadly, he died 6 days later and I personally laid a Poppy at his grave on the 27/03/2022 (Mother's Day). George temporally returned to his employment with the Lochrin Iron Works during his time enlisted. He headed for France on the 06/03/1917 and was appointed Lance Corporal on the 19/06/1917. See photos for George's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 3, his Headstone Report, another photo of George's grave, Old Monkland Cemetery, George's Service Records x 13, his Pension Records x 2, the Royal Scots Cap Badge and H.M. Hospital Ship "Princess Elizabeth".