Private George Brunton

Private George Brunton, 6th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. He was killed in action in France, aged 30, on the 26th September 1915 during the Battle of Loos. He had been born in Wishaw and was the son of the Reverend David and Annie Brunton of the Roberton United Free Church. His Battalion was part of the 27th Brigade in the 9th ( Scottish ) Division and he fell in the heavy fighting to secure the German positions in ” Fosse Alley”. Losses were heavy with 9 Officers and 34 Other Ranks killed and 7 Officers and 24 Other Ranks wounded. In addition a further 288 Other Ranks were wounded and missing. ( This was the Battalion’s first major action of the war). He is buried in Bedford House Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium where his Headstone is inscribed ” Till The Day Dawn”. The photo shows Scots  marching up to the line before the Battle and the artist’s nightmarish impression shows an attack at Loos with the troops wearing their gas hoods and using primitive grenades.