Private Arthur Clazie

Private Arthur Clazie, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers.  He was killed in action in Palestine on 19th April 1917, aged 22. He had been born in Whitsome and was the son of Mrs Agnes Clazie of Ladykirkshiels, Coldstream and is buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Palestine. Before enlisting in 1915 he had been employed as a ploughman at Broomdykes farm, Edrom. He fell in action during the Second Battle of Gaza in the attack on “Outpost Hill”. 1st/5th K.O.S.B. with heavy losses had captured the Turkish Redoubt on the hill but were by then so weakened they were forced out by a counter attack. Then it was the turn of 1st/4th K.O.S.B. under the gallant Major Wattie Forrest of Kelso together with remnants of 1st/5th and some Royal Scots Fusiliers to attack the Redoubt. Parts were captured but without any cover a secure defence was impossible as it was open to Turkish artillery and machine guns on nearby ridges.  No reserves could get through and by nightfall only 70 men were left in the Redoubt with little remaining ammunition. They slipped away after dark. The Turks who had also suffered heavy losses did not follow. 6 Officers were killed ( including Major Forrest) and 44 Other Ranks and 9 Officers and 152 Other Ranks were wounded. The photographs show the Borderers in Palestine in 1917.