Lieutenant Ronald Patrick Speirs, 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was killed in action in France, aged 20, on the 23rd April 1917 during the Second Battle of the Scarpe. He had been born in Jedburgh and was the son of the late Sherriff Peter Spiers of Bonjedward, Jedburgh and Florence Speirs of Gloucester Road, London. He had been educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Special Reserve in August 1914 and then the Argylls in July 1915 before joining the 2nd Battalion in France in August 1916. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. He fell in the attack near Fointain-les-Croiselles where the final objective was reached but with failure on the flanks “A” Coy. of the Argylls was cut off. Eventually they managed to withdraw the next day. The photos show troops during the Battle.
