Sergeant Alexander MacNab

Sergeant Alexander MacNab, ” G” Coy., 1st/7th ( Territorial ( Battalion ), Northumberland Fusiliers. He had been born in Berwick and was the son of James and Ann Macnab of Station House, Beal, Northumberland.  He was killed in action in France on 15th September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. He fell in an attack on German positions near Mametz Wood and was supported by two tanks. There was an initial success with prisoners taken but the situation became confused in the afternoon and heavy casualties were suffered from artillery and machine gun fire. The Battalion was withdrawn into reserve that night with 3 Officers and 40 Other Ranks killed and 7 Officers and 219 Other Ranks wounded. In addition 74 Other Rank were posted missing. The photos show Allied troops during the Battle. The photo shows the impressive Memorial raised to Commemorate the 50th ( Northumbrian ) Division of which the Battalion was part until February 1918 when it was transferred to the 42nd ( East Lancashire ) Division for lines of communication duties. It was erected near the village of Wieltje in the Ypres Salient where nearby the Division fought its first action of the War on 26th April 1915 during the Battle of St Julien only days after landing on the Continent.