Lance Corporal James Queenan, M.M.

Lance Corporal James Queenan, M.M., 2nd Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in France on 18th September 1918, aged 27, during the ” Advance to Victory”and is buried in Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery, France. He had been born at Kersmains, Roxburgh and was the son of Ellen and the late Michael Queenan.  He had been awarded his Military Medal for gallantry in the field in Summer 1918. He fell in the assault on ” African ” Trench which the Battalion was tasked to capture so as to enable a defensive flank to be formed to protect other attacks elsewhere. Heavy machine gun fire however stalled the attack with all the Officers becoming casualties. The photos show Allied troops advancing after the retreating German Army. during the final 100 days of the War.