Captain William Sommervail, D.S.O., M.C., M.I.D.

Captain William Fulton Sommervail, D.S.O., M.C., M.I.D., 2nd Battalion, Cameronians. He was killed in action in France on 4th October 1918, aged 26, during the ” Advance to Victory”. He was the younger son of James and Isabella Sommervail of Hoselaw, Linton, Roxburghshire and is buried in Vadencourt British Cemetery, Massemy, Aisne, France. He had been educated at Loretto School, Musselburgh and was commissioned into the Cameronians in August 1914.  He was awarded his Military Cross  for his actions during the Battle of Neuve Chappelle. The citation reads ”  For conspicuous gallantry, marked ability and presence of mind at Neuve Chappelle from 10th to 14th March 1915 when he ably seconded his Commanding Officer and performed excellent work on his own initiative.. On the evening of the 12th March he collected men of his Battalion and conducted them over unknown ground to a position of attack with very good judgement. He brought his Battalion out of action after the engagement on 14th March”. He later fought at Loos and on the Somme.  At the time of his death he was Brigade Major for the Third Infantry Brigade. He and his Brigadier had gone forward alone to reconnoitre when they were both killed by the same chance shell. He is also Commemorated on the Edrom Memorial and there is a Memorial plaque to be seen in Hoselaw Kirk. The photographs show Allied troops advancing after the retreating German Army.

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