Private Robert Young Williamson, 13th ( Service ) Battalion, Essex Regiment. He was killed in action, aged 25, on the 13th November 1916 during the Battle of the Ancre. He had been born in Edinburgh and was the son of Helen and the late William Williamson of Hartrigge Lodge and 13 Exchange Street, Jedburgh. He had emigrated to South Africa and had enlisted in the Yeomanry in Cape Town before transferring to the 2nd Essex in France in February 1915 and thereafter serving at Gallipoli before returning to France. He fell in an attack on the German front line trenches which cost the Battalion 2 Officers and 12 Other Ranks killed and 133 Other Ranks wounded. In addition 8 Officers and 165 Other Ranks were posted missing. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. By late Autumn the shellfire had turned the chalky soil of thew Region into a glutinous quagmire making all movement difficult as can be seen from the photos.
