Sergeant George Howie

Sergeant George Howie, 4th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He died on 7th January 1945 aged 23. He had been born in Edrom and was the son of James and Elizabeth Howie of Gavinton and the husband of Catherine Howie of Buckie Banffshire and is buried in Brunssum War Cemetery , Holland.   He had served his apprenticeship as a plasterer and as a member of the Territorial K.O.S.B. he was mobilised in August 1939. On 1st January the Battalion had moved into the Tripsrath area to relieve the 5th Highland Light Infantry and 1st Gordon Highlanders and was  spending the time patrolling and strengthening the defences by constructing minefields. On the 7th the Battalion with Royal Engineer assistance was laying an anti tank grenade minefield when there was a great explosion from the unloading point. Sergeant Howie was killed along with 16 comrades and 30 men of the Royal Engineers. There were 2,400 mines and 2350 blew up. There were no wounded. His Headstone is inscribed ” Blessed Are The Pure In Heart; For they Shall See God”. The photos show the Borderers in late 1944 and early 1945.