Private David Brockie

Private David Brockie, 29th ( Vancouver ) Battalion, Canadian Infantry. He died in France, aged 37, on 6th November 1915 of wounds received in action and is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery, Extension, Bailleul , Nord, France. He had been born in Hobkirk in 1878 and was the son of the late Thomas Brockie of Hawthornside and Mrs Brockie of Anna Cottage, Jedburgh.  He had been educated at Hobkirk and Hawick Academy before taking a post with the Whiteaway Laidlaw Company in India. He remained in India for seven years before going to Canada to work for the ” Vancouver Daily Province” newspaper. The Battalion had been raised on 24th October 1914 in Vancouver by Lt. Col. Tobin and were always known as “Tobin’s Tigers”. They recruited from the Duke of Connaught’s Own Rifles and the Irish Fusiliers of Canada. He enlisted in November 1914 and went with his Battalion to France in May 1915 to become part of the 6th Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division.