Sergeant Alexander Lillico

Private Alexander William Lillico, 1st/7th ( Territorial ) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was killed in action in France on 21st November 1917, aged 26, during the Battle of Cambrai. He was the son of Mrs Mary Lillico of 14 Cross Street and 10 Wood Market, Kelso and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, France.  He had served his apprenticeship as a compositor/printer in Kelso before moving to Dunoon where he enlisted. Whilst in Kelso he has served for four years in the Territorial  Force 4th Kings Own Scottish Borderers.  This was the first time tanks had been used en masse ( 437 ) and on good ground to breach the German lines . The photos show Highlanders jumping a captured trench and a group of Highlanders checking a dugout in a captured German trench. His Battalion was part of the 51st ( Highland ) Division and the photograph shows the very impressive Memorial raised to the Division after the War. It was erected in Newfoundland Park on the Somme over looking “Y” Ravine where in November 1916 the Division assaulted and took the strong German positions in Beaumont Hamel. A plaque reads in both English and Gaelic ” Friends Are Good On The Day Of Battle “.

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