Private James Thorburn, 43rd Battalion, (Manitoba Regiment ), Canadian Infantry. He died of wounds in France on 9th October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, aged 19. He was the son of James and Isabella Thorburn of Coldingham and is buried in Contay British Cemetery, Somme ,France. His Headstone is inscribed ” Asleep In Jesus “. ( The ” Berwickshire Advertiser ” shows his rank as Lance Corporal ). The photograph show The autumn rains turned the ground into a glutinous quagmire making movement of guns and men very difficult as can be seen from the photographs. The colour photo shows part of the peaceful Somme countryside today ” with no gas, no barbed wire, no guns firing now”.
Private James Thorburn
- First World War
