Private James Hastie

Private James Hastie, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. He was killed in action in Belgium, aged 22, on the 14th December 1914. He had been born in 1892 in Edrom, Berwickshire and was the son of Philip and Margaret Hastie of Cannon Street, Selkirk. He was a well known local footballer and as a Reservist was recalled to the colours on the outbreak of War. He had just re-joined his Battalion one week before his death in action. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. He fell in the attack on Maedelstede farm on the Kemmel- Wytschaete road. This was a French led Operation with the ultimate objective of the Messines Ridge. It was an ill conceived and ill conducted series of operations which need not have taken place without a heavy bombardment of the enemy trenches. There was only a perfunctory artillery barrage and the Battalion attacked in the face of intense machine gun, rifle fire and uncut wire. Casualties in this failed attack were heavy. 4 Officers and 51 Other Ranks were killed and 4 Officers and 123 Other Ranks were wounded. In addition 69 Other Ranks were posted missing. The photos troops in Flanders in late 1914.