Corporal William Allan

Corporal William Allan, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. He was killed in action in France, aged 32, on 14th December 1914.  He had been born in Lauder and was the son of James and Elizabeth Allan of Oxton and the husband of Evealyne Allan of High Street, Lauder.  He had been employed as a farm servant when he enlisted as a Regular Soldier in 1901, serving in India until 1909 when he was transferred to the Army Reserve. As a Reservist he was recalled to the Colours in August 1914 and joined his battalion in France in September 1914.  His Battalion was part of the 8th Brigade in the 3rd Division. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. He fell in an attack near Kemmel which cost the Battalion heavily. 3 Officers and 51 Other Ranks were killed and 4 Officers and 123 Other Ranks were wounded. In addition 69 Other Ranks were posted missing. The photos show troops in late 1914.