Lance Corporal John Renton

Lance Corporal John Renton, 6th ( Service ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in France on 19th July 1916 during the Battle of the Somme and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Thiepval, Somme, France. He was a native of Berwick and enlisted at the Depot in the town. He fell in a forlorn attack on German positions on the outskirts of the infamous Delville Wood. These positions had not been neutralised by artillery and the attack was cut to pieces. Casualties in the already depleted Battalion were heavy with 6 Officers and 120 Other Ranks killed and wounded. This left only 3 Officers and 100 Other Ranks fit for action in the whole Battalion which was mercifully moved away from the Somme to recuperate and refill the Ranks. By September the Battalion mustered 20 Officers and over 700 Other Ranks.  The photograph pictures what was left of the Wood after the Battle.