Private Daniel Donoghue

Private Daniel Donoghue, 1st/7th ( Territorial ) Battalion Black Watch. He was killed in action in France on 24th March 1918, aged 28, during the German Spring Offensive ( Operation Michael ) and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Donoghue of Gunsgreen Hill, Ayton and was their third son to have fallen in Battle. The Battalion faced great odds on this the third day of the attack and was forced to fall back until the village of Heteburne was reached and a reorganisation could take place. During the period 21st-26th March the Battalion had casualties of 23 Officers and 627 Other Ranks from a total strength of 39 Officers and 941 Other Ranks. A high proportion of these had become prisoners of war. The colour photograph shows the Memorial raise to commemorate the 51st ( Highland ) Division of which the Battalion was part. The Memorial was erected in Newfoundland Park on the Somme overlooking “Y” Ravine which was taken when the Division stormed and captured the strong German positions at Beaumont Hamel. A plaque in Gaelic on the Memorial reads ” Friends Are Good On The Day Of Battle “. The other photographs show Allied troops preparing to resist the oncoming Germans.