Lance Sergeant William Gillis

Lance Sergeant  William H. Gillis, 14th ( Service ) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was killed in action in France on 27th March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive ( Operation Michael )and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. His Battalion was a Unit in the 40th Division. He had been born in Hawick, lived in Kelso and had enlisted in Galashiels. He was the son of David and Harriet Gillies and his father was Headmaster of Lempitlaw School, Sprouston, Kelso. Sgt Gillis had been a Gold Medallist at Hawick High School in 1913 and had finished his Junior Students course in 1915 having obtained all his Higher Leaving Certificates. He enlisted the day after his final examination. The photographs shows Allied troops preparing to resist the advancing Germans.

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