The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 08/07/1915 and were part of the 26th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. Robert arrived on the 02/10/1915. Robert Died of Wounds received on the 12/10/1917 during the 1st Battle of Passchendaele. This was a phase of the Battles of Ypres, 31st of July - 10th of 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 11 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY OCTOBER 1917 and PHOTOS x 17 FOR THE 9th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK 22nd SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 1917. The casualties from the War Diary - 11/10/1917 : 2 Wounded. 12/10/1917 : 38 Killed, 1 Died of Wounds, 221 Wounded, 36 Missing. 13/10/1917 : 2 Killed, 1 Died of Wounds, 4 Wounded. 14/10/1917 : 3 Died of Wounds. 15/10/1915 : 1 Died of Wounds (this was Robert). Totals : 40 Killed, 6 Died of Wounds, 227 Wounded, 36 Missing = 309. War Diary states : Add 25 Other Ranks presumed Shell Shock but not yet classified. Robert is also remembered on the Maxwell Parish Church Roll of Honour (see photo). See photos for Robert's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Record and Award Rolls x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Dozinghem Military Cemetery, the Black Watch Cap Badge, Robert's Pension Records x 2 and the 9th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division he was with when he died). The History of the 9th (Scottish) Division book is available to read online
here
