Alexander R Bryce

Died of Wounds on the 06/11/1918 in the 16th Philadelphia Unit, USA General Hospital at Le Treport

The Battalion was part of the 154th Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division from the 07/01/1916. Alexander died just 5 days before the Armistice. The 51st (Highland) Division took part in the Battle of the Selle, 17th - 25th October 1918. This was a phase of the Final Advance in Picardy, 17th October - 11th November 1918 : The hardest-fought of the final offensive actions. First, Third and Fourth Armies exploited their success in breaking the Hindenburg Line by pushing on across the Rivers Selle and Sambre, recapturing Valenciennes and finally in liberating Mons, where it had all begun for the British Expeditionary Force more than four years before. The Division had been relieved and was resting the Cambrai-Iwuy area on the 11th November 1918. The demobilisation of the Division began in December and the service of the Division came to an end in March when the final cadres left for England. The 6th Black Watch, 4th Seaforth Highlanders and 4th Gordon Highlanders had the honour of selection to join the Army of Occupation on the Rhine and left for Germany in February 1919. The Division reformed as part of the Territorial Army in April 1920. SEE PHOTOS x 24 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 1918. Alexander is also remembered on the Gartsherrie Church Roll of Honour under Highland Light Infantry (see photos). Alexander was formerly with the Highland Light Infantry (24295), Black Watch (S/25887) and Training Reserve (TR/14358) (see Medal Index Card). See photos for Alexander's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, Mont Huon Military Cemetery, his former Regiments the Highland Light Infantry and the Black Watch Cap Badges, the Seaforth Highlanders Cap Badge, Alexander's Pension Records x 3 and for a poem from his parents printed on cloth courtesy of the Ayrshire Post. This also contains another photo of Alexander. A big thank you for Liz Tait who sent me this. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 3 (Coatbridge Express x 2 and the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 1), the 51st (Highland) Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division he was with when he died), PHOTOS x 26 FROM THE 51st (HIGHLAND) DIVISION BOOK 22nd OCTOBER - 11th NOVEMBER 1918, another photo of Alexander's grave and 2 more photos of Alexander's grave kindly donated by my friend in France, Thierry Dericbourg (also see the main grave photo).