Private James Hastie

Private James Hastie, 9th ( Service ) Battalion, Cameronians ( Scottish Rifles ). He was killed in action, aged 18, on 28th April 1918 during the Battle of the Lys which was part of the German Spring Offensives. He had been born in Melrose and was the son of William and Helen Hastie of Smith’s Road, Darnick, Melrose. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Flanders, Belgium. He had been employed as an assistant gardener before enlisting in the Highland Light Infantry. In March 1918 he had been transferred into the Cameronians. On 21st April his Battalion was transferred to the South African Brigade in the 9th ( Scottish ) Division. The photographs show British troops in makeshift defensive positions awaiting fresh German advances.