Sergeant William Scott

Sergeant William Scott, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in France, aged 28, on the 1st September 1918 during the ” Advance to Victory”. He had been born in Ashkirk and was the eldest son of Mr John Scott of Pilmuir Cottage and was the husband of Elizabeth Scott of 1 Cottage, Teviothead, Hawick. He is buried in Queant Road Cemetery, Buissy, France. He fell in the attack on the front system of defences of the Hindenburg Line. The first objective ” Tank Trench” was captured but no further advance was possible. In the face of intense machine gun fire casualties were heavy. 3 Officers and 24 Other Ranks were killed and 7 Officers and 104 Other Ranks were wounded. In addition 2 Other Ranks were reported missing. After this blow the Battalion was reorganised on a two Company basis “X” and “Y”. The photos show Allied troops advancing after the retreating German Army during the final 100 days of the War