Private Thomas Hume

Private Thomas Hume, 6th ( Service ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in France, aged 30, on the 3rd May 1917 during the Battle of Arras. He had been born in Gordon, Berwickshire and was the son of Andrew and Alison Hume of Burnfoot, Oxton. He had been employed as a ploughman before enlisting in May 1915 and originally served at Gallipoli with the 1st Battalion, K.O.S.B. before contracting typhoid and being evacuated to hospital in Egypt. Upon recovery he went with his Battalion to France but was wounded during the Battle of the Somme and evacuated home. After a period of time with the 3rd ( Reserve) Battalion in Edinburgh he returned to France to join the 6th Battalion in January 1917. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. He fell in the disastrous attack on ” Greenland Hill” which was a night attack on the unreconnoitred German positions.. The battalion penetrated well into the enemy’s positions but the flanking Battalions did not get forward. The Germans then bit into the Battalion flanks and cut the troops off. Only some 50 men managed to return to British lines. 10 Officers and 51 Other Ranks were killed and 4 Officers and 152 Other Ranks were wounded. In addition 200 Other Ranks were posted missing presumed killed. ( Some may have been taken prisoner) The photos show troops during the Battle.