Private James Frater

Private James Frater, 16th ( Service ) Battalion, ( 2nd Glasgow), Highland Light Infantry. He was killed in action in Belgium on 3rd July 1917 and is commemorated on the Nieuport Memorial, Nieuport, Belgium. He had been born in Yetholm and was the son of Elizabeth and the late John Frater of Yetholm and had been employed as a farm servant in Ednam, Kelso before enlisting. In 1915 he had married Mary Scott in Morebattle. He fell resisting the heavy German attacks made along the Belgian coast in July 1917 which had been designed to disrupt the coming Offensive at Ypres. The Battalion was known as “The Glasgow Boys Brigade Battalion” being a “Pals Battalion” initially raised from members and ex members of the Boys Brigade.