Private, Thomas Ormston

Private Thomas Ormston, 2nd Battalion, Black Watch. He was killed in action in Mesopotamia on 21st January 1916 and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial Iraq. He had been born in Eccles and was the son of John and the late Isabella Ormston of West Morriston and East Gordon Farms. He had been employed as a shepherd at East Gordon when he enlisted going to France in August 1915 before the Battalion was transferred to Mesopotamia in December of that year.  He fell in the attack on the Turkish positions in the village of Hanna. Due to earlier losses the Battalion had been reduced to around 250 rifles. The position was captured but heavy losses forced a retirement back to the main British lines. Losses were 3 Officers and 100 Other Ranks killed or missing. Total casualties amounted to 60% of the Battalion fighting strength. Among the dead was Sergeant Findlay who had won the Victoria Cross at Aubers Ridge, France on 9th May 1915.