Private John Smith

Private John Dodds Smith, 1st/4th ( Territorial ) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. He was killed in action in France, aged 19, on the 20th November 1917 during the Battle of Cambrai. He had been born in Selkirk in 1898 and was the son of William and Mary Smith of Tollhouse, Kingscroft, Selkirk. He is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Cambrai, France. He fell on the first day of the Battle when the 51st ( Highland ) Division of which the Battalion was part, attacked the German held villages of Cantaing and Flesquieres. The Battle was noted for the first massed use of tanks to break through the German lines. After the War an impressive Memorial was raised to commemorate the Division. It was erected on the Somme overlooking “Y” Ravine which was taken when on the 13th November 1916 the Division stormed the strong German positions in Beaumont Hamel. A Plaque on the Memorial reads in both English and Gaelic ” Friends Are Good On the Day Of Battle” The photos show images from the Battle.