Private Thomas Laing, 13th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Scots. He was killed in action in Belgium, aged 20, on the 22nd August 1917 during the Battle of Third Ypres. He had been born in Edinburgh and was the son of the late Thomas and Margaret Laing of Edinburgh who had been married in Jedburgh. He was the nephew of Thomas and Margaret Scott of 29 Canongate, Jedburgh. He had been employed at Larkhall farm, Jedburgh when he enlisted in the K.O.S.B. He was then posted to the 11th R.S. but later transferred to the 13th Battalion. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Flanders, Belgium. He fell in the fruitless attack on the strong German positions of ” Potsdam” and “Vampir” No progress could be made but several counter attack were repulsed with heavy loss. Casualties amounted to 279 Officers and Other Ranks in killed wounded and missing. The photos were taken during the earlier stages of the Battle before the destruction of the Flanders drainage system by the incessant shelling.
