The Scottish War Graves Project

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

THOMPSON, PETER
Rank: Private
Service No: 13802
Date of Death: 03/07/1916
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry 15th Bn.
Grave Reference: IV. A. 10.
Cemetery: BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY, AUTHUILLE WOOD
Additional Information: Place of birth Cambuslang Lanarkshire (SNWM).

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

WAUGH, THOMAS
Rank: Corporal
Service No: 15827
Date of Death: 01/07/1916
Age: 21
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry 17th Bn.
Grave Reference: III. E. 10.
Cemetery: BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY, AUTHUILLE WOOD
Additional Information: Son of Jemima L. Waugh, of The Tors, Falkirk, and the late Thomas Masterton Waugh.

jrah60 · Joined: 05 Feb 2010 Posts: 2413 Location: East Kibride

WOOD, ALEXANDER
Rank: Lance Corporal
Service No: 16203
Date of Death: 01/07/1916
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry 17th Bn.
Grave Reference: III. B. 11.
Cemetery: BLIGHTY VALLEY CEMETERY, AUTHUILLE WOOD
Additional Information: Place of birth Glasgow (SNWM).

John

kenmorrison · Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Posts: 747

So many 17th HLI men here.
An extract from the Battalion History

http://ia800306.us.archive.org/29/items/17thHLI00glasuoft/17thHLI00glasuoft.pdf

At 7.23 a.m. the Battalion started moving across "no man's

land." When the barrage lifted the men entered the enemy

front line and the work of the moppers-up soon began. The

advance across the open was splendidly carried out, all ranks

behaving magnificently, as was the case throughout the entire

action. Leipzig Trench was taken and the leading lines

advanced against the Hindenburg Trench. These were mown

down and by 8.15 a.m. every Company Officer was a casualty.

It now became obvious to Colonel Morton that Leipzig Trench

must be held, as without reinforcements, no further advance

could be made, both flanks being exposed, as the 8th Division

on their right had been driven back. The left was particularly

exposed and parties under Sergt. Macgregor and Sergt. Watt were

organised and sent to strengthen the left where " B " and " D "

Companies had been almost annihilated. It was now 9 o'clock

and the Battalion casualties now amounted to 22 officers and

400 other ranks. The bombers, who had been sent up to

replace casualties, were holding the flanks successfully. By

11.15 the entire line was very weak, and still at 2 o'clock in

the afternoon the situation was unchanged, 2nd Lieut.

Morrison and 2nd Lieut. Marr working and organising

the protective flank bombers without the least regard for

personal safety. At 4 o'clock the 2nd Manchesters reinforced

them with two Companies. Just at this time the line

wavered a little in face of the overwhelming bombardment

and the appalling casualties, but control was immediately

gained. At 5 the shattered unit was ordered to consolidate the

ground taken. This was done and two strong enemy counter

attacks repulsed. At 9.30 the Battalion started to be relieved

by the Manchesters, but the relief was not wholly carried out

until near midnight.

The first V.C., not only for the Battalion, but of the

Division was gained in this battle and was won by Sergeant

James Young Turnbull.

The following is the extract from The London Gazette, of 25th

December, 1916, intimating the award of the Victoria Cross :-"

"No. 15888 Sergeant JAMES YOUNG TURNBULL,

late Highland Light Infantry.

" For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty,

when, having with his party captured a post apparently of

great importance to the enemy, he was subjected to severe

counter attacks, which were continuous throughout the whole

day. Although his party was wiped out and replaced several

times during the day, Sergeant Turnbull never wavered in his

determination to hold the post, the loss of which would have

been very serious. Almost single-handed he maintained his

position and displayed the highest degree of valour and skill

in the performance of his duties.

" Later in the day this gallant soldier was killed whilst

bombing a counter-attack from the parados of our trench."

Of all the units operating in that ghastly Sector, the zyth H.L.I.

was the only Battalion which reached and occupied and held

the enemy's trenches from La Boiselle northwards. Sir Arthur

Conan Doyle, writing of the battle of the Somme in his history

of the war, emphasises what this unadorned record of the day's

fighting bears out-that there had been no flinching anywhere,

and the military virtue shown had been of the highest possible

quality ; but the losses from the machine guns and from the

barrage was so heavy that they deprived the attack of the

weight and momentum necessary to win their way through the

enemy's position. " In the desperate circumstances," he

says, " it might well be considered a remarkable result that a

stretch of the Leipzig Redoubt should be won and permanently

held by the Highlanders, especially b y the i7th Highland Light

Infantry."