Lance Corporal William Skinner M.M.

Lance Corporal William Hugh Skinner, M.M., 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He died of wounds in the Red Cross Hospital , Etaples, France on 19th December 1917, aged 36 and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Etaples, France. He had been born in Dunfermline and was the son of Andrew and Jessie Skinner of Limekilns, Fife.  He was the husband of the late Mary Skinner whom he had married in Kelton, Kirkcudbrightshire in 1912.  He had seemingly come to Duns from Kelton Parish Church near Castle Douglas. He was an Associate of the London College of Music and was Organist and Choirmaster of Duns Parish Church.  He and his wife had taught music from their home in 48 Easter Street, Duns.  He had originally enlisted in the 1st/4th N.F. before being transferred to the 1st/.5th N. F. and then on to the 1st Battalion.  His award of the Military Medal was announced in March 1918. His Headstone is inscribed ” Until The Day Dawns And The Shadows Flee Away “. The Battalion had recently been involved in the Battle of Cambrai and had been heavily involved in a German attack on a British position at the ” Apex” near Bullecourt on the  12th December.  It may have been that Lance Corporal Skinner was wounded during this action. The photographs were taken during the Battle.