Private William Whitlie

Private William Whitlie, 9th (Highland) Battalion, Royal Scots. He was killed by a sniper in Belgium on 22nd May 1915 aged 20. He was the son of Walter and Jane Whitlie of 106 Raeburn Place, Edinburgh and formerly of Berwick. He is buried in Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium where his Headstone is inscribed ” Until The Day Break”. At that time the Battalion were holding front line trenches in Sanctuary Wood and were about to leave the trenches on 23rd May. There were 23 killed during this period from snipers and shelling. The photograph shows the Memorial erected to the 51st (Highland) Division of which the 9th Royal Scots were part. It over looks “Y” Ravine on the Somme which was captured by the Division during the successful storm and capture of Beaumont Hamel in November 1916. A Plaque reads in both English and Gaelic ” Friends Are Good On The Day Of Battle “.