Lance Corporal Thomas Blackie

Lance Corporal Thomas Blackie, 7th/8th ( Service ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in France, aged 31, on the 28th March 1918 during the German Spring Offensives. He had been born in Earlston, Berwickshire and was the son of Robert and Janet Blackie of Dunfermline and was the husband of Janet Blackie whom he had married in Earlston in 1908. He had been employed on the Cavers Estate when he enlisted in the 1st/4th K.O.S.B. in November 1914. He was then posted to the 7th/8th K.O.S.B. in France in early 1916. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. ( Some records show his surname as Blaikie ) On the 28th the Germans made a determined effort to storm Arras. The Battalion fell back under heavy shellfire due to pressure on the flanks until contact with the enemy was lost. Casualties were 1 Officer and 10 Other Ranks killed and 2 Officers and 36 Other Ranks wounded. In addition 39 Other Ranks were reported missing although most of these appear to have re-joined the ranks later. The photos show Allied troops in defensive positions.