Private Thomas Miller

Private Thomas Miller, ( probably )1st/7th Territorial ) Battalion, Black Watch. He was killed in action, aged 23, in France on the 23rd April 1917 during the Battle of Arras. He had been born in Selkirk in 1894 and is buried in Brown’s Copse Cemetery, Roeux, Arras, France. He was killed in the attack by the 51st ( Highland ) Division on the attack towards the notorious Chemical Works at Roeux. Despite intense machine gun fire and with the help of a tank the Battalion had captured their objectives and were established in the German support trenches and able to repulse German counter attacks with heavy loss to the enemy. As ever casualties were heavy with 7 Officers and 64 Other Ranks killed and 5 Officers and 194 Other Ranks wounded. In addition 65 Other Ranks were posted missing.. After the War an impressive Memorial was raised to commemorate the 51st ( Highland ) Division of which the Battalion was part. It was erected in Newfoundland Park on the Somme overlooking “Y” Ravine which was taken when the Division stormed ad captured the very 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 other photos show troops during the Battle.