Private Joseph Boston

Private Joseph Henry Boston, 9th( Highland) Battalion, Royal Scots ( The Dandy Ninth ). He was killed in action in France on 31st March 1918, aged 21, during the German Spring Offensive ( Operation Michael ) and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memoriel, Pozieres, France. He was the son of Peter and Mary Boston of 1 Hawarden Terrace, Spittal. Before enlisting he had been educated at Berwick Grammer School before being employed by Messrs McCreath & Sons, Grain Merchants in Berwick. He had already been wounded in December 1916 and on being evacuated to England had survived the torpedoing of the Hospital Ship ” Donegal ” in the English Channel upon his returning to the Front in April 1917. 29 soldiers and 12 crew were lost in the sinking. The photo shows the very impressive Memorial erected to the 51st ( Highland ) Division which the Battalion became part in early 1916. It was erected in Newfoundland Park on the Somme overlooking “Y” Ravine which was taken when the Division stormed and captured the strong German positions in Beaumont Hamel in November 1916. On the front of the Memorial is a plaque which reads in both English and Gaelic ” Friends Are Good On the Day of Battle”.