Lance Corporal James Baptie

Lance Corporal James Baptie, 13th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Scots. He died from wounds in France, aged 33, on the 30th March 1918. He had been born in Kelso and was the son of Margaret and the late James Baptie of Wells, Denholm. Before enlisting in March 1915 he had been employed as head gamekeeper by Sir Robert Usher of Wells, Hobkirk. He had originally posted to the 12th Royal Scots but was wounded in November 1915 and eventually evacuated back to the Royal Scots Depot in September 1916. He returned to France and joined the 13th R.S. in February 1917. He was wounded again and captured near Oppy on the 28th March and died in a German Field Hospital during the German Spring Offensive ( Operation Michael). He is buried in Sin-Le -Noble Communal Cemetery, France. On the 28th the Battalion faced a tremendous artillery bombardment which caused severe casualties amongst the defenders. Undismayed the survivors fought desperately causing the Germans heavy casualties. The advance was halted for the time being. Casualties were 2 Officers and 6 Other Ranks killed and 140 Other Ranks were wounded. In addition 8 Officers and 230 Other Ranks were posted missing. Some of the missing such as Private Baptie would have been prisoners but the bulk would have been killed. The photos show Allied troops in defensive positions in March 1918.