Private James Hannay

Private James Rankin Hannay, 1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Belgium, aged 19, on the 31st August 1918 during the ” Advance to Victory”. He had been born in Selkirk in 1898 and was the son of John and Violet Hannay of Buccleuch Road, Selkirk and he is commemorated on the Ploegsteert, Memorial, Flanders, Belgium. He had been originally posted to the 15th ( Service ) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry but was transferred to the K.O.S.B. At that time the Battalion were moving towards Armentieres with their advance past and through booby traps left by the retreating Germans. The Regimental History does not mention any action on that day so Private Hannay may have been the victim of one of these traps. The photographs show the advancing allied troops pressing after the retreating Germans during the final 100 days of the War.

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