Lance Corporal Peter Finney

Lance Corporal Peter Finney, 6th (Service) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in France, aged 45, on the 3rd May 1917 during the Battle of Arras and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. He had been born in Galashiels and was the son of the late Mary and Robert Finney and the husband of Agnes Finney of 21 Halliburton Place, Galashiels whom he had married in 1895. He had been a National Reservist and was mobilised in August 1914 joining the 2nd Battalion, K.O.S.B. in Belgium in December 1914. he was invalided home in early 1915 suffering from trench feet and upon recovery was posted to the 6th Battalion. The attack on “Greenland Hill” during the Battle was an unmitigated disaster. The attack went in on unreconnoitred German positions during the night and 3 Companies of the Battalion were cut off . Only 50 men managed to regain British lines. 11 Officers and 51 Other Ranks were killed and 4 Officers and 152 Other Ranks were wounded. In addition 200 Other Ranks were posted missing. The photos show troops at Arras.