Private George Wade Black, 16th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Scots. He died of wounds in the 43rd Casualty Clearing Station in France on 23rd March 1918 aged 26. He was the son of James and Margaret Black of Railway Cottages, Darnick and is buried in Bac-Du-Sud British Cemetery, Arras, France. Before enlisting with his brother in November 1914 he had been employed as a gardener in Kinglassie, Fife. He was mortally wounded on the second day of the German Spring Offensive ( Operation Michael ). The Battalion were in positions near Croiselles and under intense pressure were forced back to positions in the third line of defence from where they were relieved on the evening of 23rd March. Casualties were heavy with 4 Officers and 11 Other Ranks killed and 3 Officers and 137 Other Ranks wounded. In addition 2 Officers and 68 Other Ranks were posted missing. ( The 16th Battalion, Royal Scots was a “Pals” Battalion founded by Colonel Sir George McCrae in 1914 and originally consisted of professional football players and supporters from teams such as Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Raith Rovers, Falkirk and Dunfermline ). The first photograph shows the Colonel and the other photos show British and French troops in defences awaiting further German advances.
