Private George McDonald

Private George Alexander McDonald, 1st/8th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Scots. He was killed in France, aged 24, on 16th May 1915 and commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial. He had been born in North Berwick to Robert and Jane McDonald of Albert Place, Darnick, Melrose and before moving to Haddington he had worked as a joiner in Melrose. He had enlisted in August 1914 and he fell during the Battle of Festubert. On the afternoon of that fight the Battalion was brought up just after noon to hold some captured trenches. These trenches were very heavily shelled but the troops held on unflinchingly until the Battalion was relieved on the 18th. Over the 3 days over 180 Officers and men became casualties including the C.O. Lieutenant Colonel Brook who was mortally wounded.