Private James Redden

Private James Redden, 2nd Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in France on 25th September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, aged 20. He had been born in Duns and was the son of Mrs Jane and the late Henry Redden of Clockmill, Duns and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Thiepval, Somme, France.  He enlisted in November 1915 and he fell in the capture of the village of Morval where nearly 700 prisoners and 5 machine guns were taken. 4 Officers and 165 Other Ranks became casualties. ( In all the Battle of the Somme cost the Battalion 19 Officers and 136 Other Ranks killed and 23 Officers and 708 Other Ranks wounded. In addition 266 Other Ranks were posted missing.  This totals around 100% of a war strength Battalion ). The photographs show the ground after the autumn rains had turned the ground into a glutinous quagmire making movement difficult. The colour photo shows a peaceful Somme landscape as it is today with ” no gas, no barbed wire, no guns firing now”.

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