Private George Ballantyne

Private George Laidlaw Ballantyne, 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders He was killed in action in France, aged 21, on the 23rd April 1917 during the Battle of Arras. He had been born in Selkirk and was the son of Thomas and Mary Ballantyne of 13 Victoria Crescent, Selkirk and 221 Magdala Crescent, Galashiels. He is buried in Heninel-Croiselle Road Cemetery, Arras, France where hIs Headstone is inscribed ” The Combat’s O’er The Prize Is Won”. Before enlisting he had been employed as an apprentice plumber. The photographs show Allied troops during the Battle. The Battle of Arras was often called the “Scottish” Battle because of the number of Scots Battalions involved ( 38 ). His brother George had already fallen during the Battle of the Somme ( see below)