Private Francis Berry

Private Francis Berry, 2nd Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in France on 25th September 1916, aged 20, during the Battle of the Somme. He had been born in Towie, Aberdeenshire and was the son of Francis and Catherine Berry of Minto and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Thiepval, Somme, France. He had been educated at Hawick High School and before enlisting in October 1915 he had been employed in a Solicitor’s office in Hawick. He fell in the very successful attack on the German positions in Morval where nearly 700 prisoners were taken along with 5 Machine Guns. As ever casualties were not light and 3 Officers were killed with 2 Officers wounded. Other Rank casualties were 165 of which 40 were killed.  The photographs show Scottish troops on the Somme.