Private John Storie

Private John Storie, 6th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in France on 3rd May 1917 during the Battle of Arras, aged 24. He was the son of Alexander Storie of Gilmanscleuch, Ettrick, Selkirkshire and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. He fell in the disastrous attack on the German positions at “Greenland Hill”. This was a night attack on an unreconnoitred position with few experienced Officers and there was no surprise. The Battalion had penetrated deep into the German lines but the flanking Battalions had not progressed allowing the Germans to cut off the forward three companies. Eventually only some 50 men managed to return to British lines. Casualties were very severe. 11 Officers and 250 Other Ranks were killed or missing and 4 Officers and 152 Other Ranks were wounded. The photograph shows the 9th ( Scottish ) Division memorial at Arras beside the remains of a German blockhouse captured by the Battalion during the Battle.