Alexander Dalziel

Killed in Action on the 21/01/1916 at the Attack on Hanna (part of the efforts to relieve Kut)

The Battalion arrived at Bareilly, India in August 1914 and were part of the 21st (Bareilly) Brigade in 7th (Meerut) Division. On the 21/09/1914 they moved to France, landing at Marseilles on the 12/10/1914. Alexander arrived in France on the 08/04/1915. In December 1915 they moved to Mesopotamia, landing at Basra on the 31/12/1915. The formation was by now renamed 21st Indian Brigade, 7th Indian Division. The Battle of Hanna (part of the siege of Kut-al-Amara) - By the 20th of January the British 7th Division was beginning to resemble a shadow of the army formation that had set out just two weeks earlier. Heavy casualties, combined with sickness and the pace of the march, meant that many of its Battalions were below half strength. The 2nd Battalion Black Watch seems to have suffered particularly badly, especially in numbers of wounded and killed, and could only muster some 250 effective soldiers for the battle to come. No longer were the soldiers of the 7th Division facing raw and frightened troops, now they were facing veterans of the Gallipoli Front. The British artillery opened up a barrage on the 20th which continued throughout the day and the following morning. At seven minutes past eight on the morning of the 21st the 2nd Black Watch surged forward from their trenches towards the Turkish lines, just as the artillery barrage lifted. The 2nd Battalion did manage to take the Turkish trenches to their front, despite enduring a hail of bullets as they advanced. Casualties on the 21/01/1916 according to the Battalion War Diary were - 2 Officers Killed, 3 Wounded, 1 Missing, 21 Other Ranks Killed, 57 Wounded, 79 Missing. SEE PHOTOS x 21 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY JANUARY 1916. Alexander was reported missing on the 21/01/1916 but his death was not confirmed until November 1917. Alexander's death notice in the Coatbridge Leader on the 01/12/1917 was inserted by his 3 sisters. He is also remembered on the Trinity Parish Church Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for Alexander's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Basra Memorial Panel List, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his name on the Basra Memorial, the Black Watch Cap Badge, Alexander's Pension Records x 2, the CWGC Basra Memorial Roll of Honour x 3 and Alexander's name in the CWGC Basra Memorial Roll of Honour. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 2 (Coatbridge Leader x 1 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 1).