Corporal Robert Wilson

Corporal Robert John Spence Wilson, 7th/8th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers.  He was killed in action in France, aged 26, on the 9th April 1917 on the first day of the Battle of Arras.  He had been born at Fairnington, Roxburgh and was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Wilson of Springwells, Eccles. He had been employed as a gardener at Sunlaws House, Roxburgh before enlisting in December 1914. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. All the day’s objectives were taken and a new line consolidated with a casualty list of 4 Officers and 120 Other Ranks. The photos show troops during the Battle and one of the 16 Artillery pieces captured during the advance. After the War one of the guns was displayed outside Hawick Museum.