Private James Johnston

Private James Johnston, 7th/8th ( Service ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action on 9th April 1917 on the first day of the Battle of Arras, aged 37. He was the son of Mr and  Mrs T. Johnston of Cornhill and the husband of Agnes Johnston of Station Cottages, Cornhill and is buried in Feuchy France. His Headstone is inscribed ” He Died For Others Himself He Could Not Save Ever Remembered By His Loving Wife And Daughter “. He fell in the attack on Feuchy Redoubt where  the Battalion suffered 125 casualties and captured 16 artillery pieces when the position was stormed and captured.  Before the War he had been employed  for 20 years as a Railway Signalman at Coldstream Station. He was a regular Church goer and left a widow and two children. His two brothers were still serving. The first photograph shows one of the captured German guns which was displayed in front of Hawick Museum after the War. The other photos show troops during the Battle.