The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 10/05/1915 and were part of the 9th (Scottish) Division. William arrived in France on the 01/09/1915. The Battalion were at L'Abbayette Valley from the 30th April until past the date William Died of Wounds. This was a phase of the Arras offensive (Battle of Arras), 9th April - 16th June 1917 : Once again the British are called upon to launch an attack in support to a larger French offensive : the battles of the Chemin des Dames and the hills of Champagne. The opening Battle of Vimy and the First Battle of the Scarpe are very encouraging, but once again the offensive - often known as the Battle of Arras - bogs down into an attritional slog. Final attempts to outflank the German lines at Bullecourt prove terribly costly. SEE PHOTOS x 14 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY APRIL - MAY 1917. William is listed as 1st BATTALION on the Coatbridge Memorial and as DALLON in the Newspapers of the time (see photos). William was a Reservist who had served 5 years in India. I personally laid a Poppy at William's grave in 2008 (see photos). His brother Private David Dillon of the 17th (Service) Battalion (3rd Glasgow) Highland Light Infantry was Killed in Action on the 18/11/1916 and his cousin Private William Dillon of the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers who Died of Wounds on the 31/10/1914 (see Directory for both mens pages). William is also remembered in the St. Patrick's (book) (see photos for more Family information x 2) and Stewarts and Lloyds Rolls of Honour (see photos). A huge thank you to Robert D Corrins for sending me a copy of his St. Patrick's and the Great War book. See photos for William's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, William and his brother David's Pension Records x 4, William's grave, Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery, the Seaforth Highlanders Cap Badge, a map showing the ground captured during the Arras offensive and the Seaforth's Memorial which stands on high ground above Fampoux in the Arras battlefield. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x (Coatbridge Express x 1 and Coatbridge Leader x 1), Poppy Cross placed by myself in July 2023 ( also see main grave photo), Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery taken by myself in July 2023, Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery (partner Linda top right at Arras Memorial) taken by myself in July 2023, William's and 5 other Poppy Crosses placed by myself at Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery in July 2023 (William's Poppy Cross top left), William's name on the Clyde Tube Works panel of the Stewarts and Lloyds Roll of Honour plaque, the Stewarts and Lloyds Roll of Honour plaque, PHOTOS x 24 FOR THE 9th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK 5th APRIL - 26th MAY 1917 and the 9th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division Alexander was with when he died). The History of the 9th (Scottish) Division book is available to read online
here
