Private William Preston

Private William Preston, 2nd Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action, aged 28, in France on the 18th September 1918 during the ” Advance to Victory”. He had been born in Selkiry in 1890 and was the son of the late Joseph and Nellie Preston of Selkirk and the brother of Nellie Bryson of Buccleuch Road, Selkirk. He is buried in Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery, France. He fell in the attack on ” African Trench ” which was not successful due to intense machine gun fire. Some gains were made but enfilade fire meant they could not be consolidated. 2 Officers were killed and 5 wounded. By the end of the month the Battalion was reduced to 13 Officers and 285 Other Ranks. The photos show Allied troops during the final 100 days of the War.