Second Lieutenant Alexander Hepburne-Scott

Second Lieutenant Alexander Noel Hepburne-Scott. 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards. He was posted missing presumed killed in action in France, aged 23, on the 16th May 1915 during the Battle of Festubert. He was the son of the Hon. W. G. Hepburne-Scott, C.B.E. ( now 9th Baron Polwarth )and Lady Polwarth of Humbie House, Humbie, East Lothian. He had been educated at Repton school and Balliol College Oxford. As an undergraduate he had enlisted in the London Scottish as a Private and had already served in France and Belgium. In January 1915 he was evacuated home with jaundice before being commissioned into the Scots Guards in March 1915 He is commemorated on the Let Touret Memorial, Richebourg, Pas de Calais, France. After heavy fighting some of the German trenches were captured and several counter attacks beaten off. Casualties were 7 Officers and 47 Other Ranks killed and 2 Officers and 182 Other Ranks wounded. The photos were taken during the Battle.