Private James Sword

Private James Robert Baillie Sword, 1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action, aged 28, on 26th November 1917 in the Marcoing sector during the Battle of Cambrai and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louveral, Cambrai, France. He had been born in Whittinghame, Haddington and was the son of Robert and Mary Sword of Drakemire, Preston. Before enlisting he had been employed as a shepherd at Potburn, Ettrick.  He had joined the Battalion at Gallipoli in July 1915 but was evacuated home due to illness. He re-joined the Battalion in France in July 1916. This Battle was noteworthy as it was the advent of the massed Tank attack and initially a great hole was torn in the German lines. The church bells rang in Britain to celebrate this victory. But strong German counter attacks and a lack of reserves forced the British back to almost the Start Line. The first photograph shows an individual tank in more detail.