Private John Runciman

Private John Darling Runciman, 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots. He died in the 7th Field Ambulance from wounds in France, aged 29, on the 9th April 1917 on the first day of the Battle of Arras. He had been born in Ednam and was the son of William and Isabella Runciman and the husband of Mary Runciman of Linthaugh, Jedburgh. Before enlisting he had been employed as a forester on the Earl of Home’s estate. He was posted to the 13th Royal Scots in France but was then transferred to the 2nd Battalion. He was mortally wounded  during the attack on the German “Brown Line” which was initially successful but was later held up by machine gun fire from the German positions in  “Feuchy Chapel” which had not been taken by the flanking Battalion, the 7th Kings Shropshire Light Infantry.  He is buried in Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-Les-Mofflaines, Arras, France where his Headstone is inscribed ” He Died That We Might Live”. The photos show troops during the Battle. ( Photo of Private Runciman J. D. Smith ).