Private William Pringle

Private William Pringle, 1st/4th ( Territorial ) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. He was killed in action in France on the 21st March 1918, aged 19, on the first day of the German Spring Offensive. On that day the Battalion were in positions near Flesquieres and were forced to conduct a fighting retreat which over a few days took it back with rest of the 51st ( Highland ) Division towards Bapaume on the Somme fighting several critical rearguard actions. During this time the Division suffered nearly 5,000 casualties. He ad been born in Selkirk and was the son of John and Helen Pringle of St. Mary’s Mill Lodge, Selkirk. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. The colour photo shows the impressive Memorial erected 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 and captured the string German positions in Beaumont Hamel in November 1916. A Plaque on the memorial reads in both Gaelic and English ” Friends Are Good On The Day Of Battle”. The other photos show Allied troops in defensive positions during the Offensive,