Captain James Dundas

Captain James Strathern Dundas, 7th ( Airborne ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Holland, aged 26, on the 25th September during that part of Operation “Market Garden” which was the airborne assault on the bridge over the River Rhine at Arnhem. He had been born in Selkirk in 1918 and was the son of William and Jess Dundas of Shawpark, Selkirk. He is buried in Arnhem Ooosterbeek War Cemetery, Arnhem, Holland. He had been educated at Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University from where he graduated M.A. in 1938. He was studying for a further degree in Law when War was declared. As a Member of the O,T.C he was commissioned in October 1939 and served with the 1st Battalion, K.O.S.B. in France before being evacuated from Dunkirk in May 1939. He was second in command of “B” Coy. when the Battalion was landed by Horsa Glider ( see photo ) west of the village of Wolfheze near Arnhem with a strength of 740 all ranks. At Johannahoeve farm and later at the “White House” they were surrounded by superior forces equipped with heavy weapons including tanks and assault guns. After ferocious combat the remnants of 4 Officers and 72 Other Ranks were withdrawn to Allied positions west of the Rhine. ( Willie Kerr from Coldstream, pictured below, was one of the few who made it back over the Rhine ). This was the Battalion’s first and only battle. The photos show troops during the Battle.