Private Henry Laurie

Probably Henry Taylor Lawrie (as spelled on the CWGC site), 17th ( Service ) Battalion, Royal Scots. He was killed in action in France, aged 28, on 25th March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive ( Operation Michael ) and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial. He had been born in Fettercairn and was the son of James and the late Ellen Lawrie of Fettercairn and the husband of Jessie Lawrie of Nethershiels, Stow. Before enlisting he had been employed as a gamekeeper at Nethershiels. On that day the Battalion was holding a defensive position  in the Somme valley near Maurepas but were forced back by a very heavy German assault. Following this stubborn rear guard action they withdrew to defensive positions near Mariciourt. From 24th March until 30th March casualties were 3 Officers and 30 Other Ranks killed and 2 Officers and 155 Other Ranks wounded. In addition 40 Other Ranks were posted missing. This was the Battalion’s last action against the Germans in the Second Battle of the Somme. The photographs show British troops preparing to resist the advancing Germans.