Private George Aitken

Private George Mark Aitken, 11th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Scots. He was killed in action in Belgium on 1st October 1918, aged 37 during the ” Advance to Victory “. He had been born in Spittal and was the son of George and Christina Aitken of 12 St Helen’s, Spittal and the husband of Elizabeth Brown Clark ( formerly AItken ) of 3 Viewforth Square, Edinburgh. He is buried in Dadizeele New British Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium. On 30th September the 9th Scottish Division ( which included 11th Royal Scots ) captured the Village of Dadizeele and Private Aitken fell in the fierce fighting which followed at Hill 41. The photograph shows the Memorial erected after the War to the 9th ( Scottish ) Division. Due to the heavy road traffic  it was removed in 2006 to the nearby Pointe de Jour Military Cemetery where it now stands. The other photos show Allied troops pursuing the retreating German Army during the final 100 days of the War.