Private George Ternent

Private George Ternent, “A” Coy. 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. He was killed in action in France, aged 28, on 25th September 1915 on the first day of the Battle of Loos. He had been born in Duns and was the son of John and the late Janet Ternent of 6 Newtown Street, Duns and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Dud Corner, Loos, France. He was a Battalion Piper.  He had been employed as an iron moulder at the Cammo Foundry, Duns before enlisting in the Gordons as a Regular serving in India and Egypt. He had been wounded in France in March 1915. The Battalion was part of the 7th Division and attacked towards Hulluch and Cite St. Elie where despite heavy casualties crossing the fire swept no mans land the first line of strong German defences were overcome and many prisoners taken. However no further advance was possible Casualties were 8 Officers and 73 Other Ranks killed and 8 Officers and 310 Other Ranks wounded. In addition 116 Other Ranks were posted missing most of whom were caught in a strong German counter attack near Hulluch. The first photo shows an actual attack with the troops disappearing into a ghostly cloud of gas and smoke. This was the first time in the War that the British Army had used gas. The second  shows the village of Loos after its capture and the artist’s illustration depicts a Battalion attack at Loos led by their pipers.