Private James Newbigging

Private James Newbigging, 6th ( Service ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in France, aged 41, on 3rd May 1917 during the Battle of Arras. He had been born in Duns and was the son of the late Peter and Mary Newbigging who had a plumbers business in Duns. After his father died he and his brother carried on with the business. He was unmarried ,lived in Newtown Street, Duns and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. He fell in a disastrous night attack on “Greenland Hill” which despite heroic endeavour failed completely. Three Companies attacked but with the flank attacks failing they were cut off and  only 50 men managed to return to British lines. Casualties were very heavy with 10 Officers killed and 403 Other Rank casualties of which 51 were killed, 152 wounded and 200 missing. Some of the missing were prisoners of war.  The photograph shows the Memorial to the 9th ( Scottish ) Division of which 6th K.O.S.B. was part. Beside the Memorial stands the remains of a German blockhouse which was captured by the Battalion earlier in the Battle. In was moved in 2006, due to the heavy traffic, to near the Pointe de Jour Military cemetery where it now stands.

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