Private James Black

Private James Black, 2nd Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Belgium, aged 42, on the 18th April 1915 during the fighting at “Hill 60”. He had been born in Kelso and was the son of the late Agnes and Robert Black of 4 Stirling Street, Galashiels and the husband of Isabella Black of Church Street, Galashiels. He had been employed at the Buckholmside skinworks and was a special Reservist, He was mobilised and posted to his Battalion in December 1914. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. He fell in the attack and following fierce and sanguinary fighting on Hill 60 which was often hand to hand with the enemy. This cost the Battalion 10 Officers and 201 Other Rank casualties before being relieved . The artist’s impression tries to depict the fighting on what was considered the “hottest spot” in the Ypres sector of the front. ( his brother John also fell – see above).