Corporal Peter Swanston

Corporal Peter Swanston, 7th/8th Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He died of wounds on 15th April 1917 during the Battle of Arras, aged 33. He was the son of Peter and Jane Swanston and the husband of Mary Swanston of High Street, Ayton and is buried in Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France. His Headstone is inscribed ” A Loving Husband And Father To Memory Dear “.  It is likely that he was wounded in the attack on Monchy which cost the Battalion about 200 casualties. He died in  No. 41 Casualty Clearing Station within days of his chum and former workmate George Redpath both having worked as masons with Mr Swanston of Ayton. He was a keen member of the United Free Church in Ayton and left 4 children. The first photos were taken during the Battle and the  photograph is of a German artillery piece captured by the Battalion in ” Happy Valley ” near Monchy during the Battle. After the War it was displayed in front of Hawick museum.