Private George Whittle

Private George Thomas Whittle, 1st/6th ( Renfrew ), Territorial,  Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He died in France in the 54th Casualty Clearing Station at Aire on 9th May 1918 of wounds received in action during the German Spring offensives aged 19. He had been born at New Bewick, Northumberland and was the son on Mary and the late Thomas Whittle of Eden Hall, Ednam and Hoselaw, Ednam. He is buried in Aire Communal Cemetery, Aire, France where his Headstone is inscribed ” Though He Is Dead Yet Shall He Live”. Before enlisting at age 18 he had been employed as a gardener at Ladykirk hall, Berwickshire. The Battalion was part of the 154th Brigade (3rd Highland) in the 51st (Highland) Division and after the War an impressive memorial was raised in its commemoration. It was erected in Newfoundland Park on the Somme overlooking “Y” Ravine which was captured when the Division stormed the strong German positions in Beaumont Hamel on 13th November 1916. A Plaque on the Memorial reads in both English ad Gaelic ” Friends Are Good On the Day Of Battle”. The photographs show Allied troops in makeshift defensive positions awaiting the German advances.