Private James Hastie

Private James Hastie, 9th ( Service ) Battalion, Cameronians ( Scottish Rifles ). He was killed in action in Belgium on 28th April 1918, aged 18, during the Battle of the Lys which was part of the German Spring Offensives. He had been born in Melrose and was the son of William and Helen Hastie and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Flanders, Belgium. He had ben employed as a gardener before enlisting in Galashiels in the Highland Light Infantry. In March 1918 he had been transferred into the Cameronians which since 21st April had formed part of the South African Brigade of the 9th ( Scottish ) Division. The photographs show British troops in defensive positions awaiting fresh German advances.