Private Andrew White

Private Andrew White, 8th ( Service ) Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders. He died in a Casualty Clearing Station of wounds received in action in France during the Battle of Loos on 26th October 1915, aged 20. He was a native of Fishwick, near Paxton and the son of Thomas and Helen White of Dykegate farm, near Whitsome. Before enlisting in November 1914 he had been employed as a ploughman at Dykegatehead.  He buried in Vermelles British Cemetery, France where his Headstone is inscribed ” In This Grave Lies One We Mourn To Think That He Will Ne-er Return”.  He was part of the Battalion transport section and his party was hit by a shell whilst bring water up to the front line. The first photograph shows an actual attack with the troops disappearing into the ghostly clouds of gas and smoke. This was the first time in the War that the British Army had used gas. The second photograph shows the village of Loos after its capture. The artist’s impression shows a Battalion attack at Loos led by their pipers.