Additional Information
The 9th Battalion Machine Gun Corps were part of the 9th (Scottish) Division. The 28th Company formed at Merris on the 01/01/1916 by transfer of Machine Gun Sections from Battalions of 28th Infantry Brigade of the 9th (Scottish) Division. They moved to South African Brigade in the same Division on the 06/05/1916 but retained its number. They merged into the 9th Battalion Machine Gun Corps on the 01/03/1918. Andrew and an Officer were in charge of a gun team on the front line when the German attack started at the Battle of St. Quentin (First Battles of the Somme 1918) on the 21/03/1918. He was never seen again (see Newspaper clipping for letter sent to Andrew's mother from Lieutenant Darling). Andrew was Killed in Action on the opening day of the German Spring Offensive of 1918 at the Battle of St. Quentin, 21st - 23rd March 1918. This was part of the 1st Battles of the Somme, 21st March - 5th April 1918 : After transferring very large forces from the now-collapsed Eastern Front, the German Army commits to a series of large-scale offensives. The first, Operation Michael, strikes the British Fifth and Third Armies. A deep advance is made and inflicts large losses, although the second phase, Operation Mars, at Arras on the 28th March, is soon held. In the crisis, the Allies decide at Doullens to appoint French General Foch as co-ordinator, and soon enough, as Generalissimo. Before enough French and British reserves are finally assembled to hold the German advance before it captures the critical railway junctions at Amiens. SEE PHOTOS x 25 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY MARCH 1918. The Battalion War Diary states casualties for the 21/03/1918 - "1 Officer Wounded, 1 Officer Missing, 4 Other Ranks Killed, 16 Other Ranks Wounded, 9 Other Ranks Missing". Andrew was 1 of the 4 men of the Battalion who died this day. The casualties from the 21/03/1918 - 27/03/1918 were - "4 Officers Wounded, 3 Officers Missing, 12 Other Ranks Killed, 67 Other Ranks Wounded, 39 Other Ranks Missing, 1 Other Rank Wounded and Missing". Andrew enlisted as a Private in the 11th (Service) Battalion Highland Light Infantry (10368) and arrived at Boulogne on the 13/05/1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in 1915. It was with the Battalion that Andrew was awarded the Military Medal in April 1917 for gallantry in the field. He had been mentioned in despatches no fewer than 4 times. He was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal on the 17/06/1918 (see Medal Card). Andrew is also remembered on the Maxwell Parish Church, East United Free Church and Kipps Rolls of Honour (see photos). See photos for Andrew's Medal Index Card x 2, his name on the Coatbridge Electoral Register with his mum and stepfather Peter Neilson, his name on the Pozieres Memorial, the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge (who he won his Military Medal with), the Machine Gun Corps Cap Badge, Andrew's Pension Records x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Pozieres Memorial Panel List. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 6 (Coatbridge Express x 2, Coatbridge Leader x 1 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 3), Poppy placed by myself at Pozieres Memorial in July 2023 x 4, Pozieres Cemetery and Memorial taken by myself in July 2023 x 2, PHOTOS x 17 FOR THE 9th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK 1st - 21st MARCH 1918 and the 9th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division Andrew was with when he died).
