Samuel and the Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 11/07/1915 and were part of the 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. Samuel died in a Boulogne Hospital from wounds received in late September at the Battle of Loos : 25th September - 15th October 1915 : The first genuinely large scale British offensive action but once again only in a supporting role to a larger French attack in the Third Battle of Artois. British appeals that the ground over which they were being called upon to advance was wholly unsuitable were rejected. The battle is historically noteworthy for the first British use of poison gas. 25/09/1915 : the situation at noon - The 47th (London) and 15th (Scottish) Divisions had captured Loos, although they had been halted and were threatened by counterattack on Hill 70. There were clear signs of German withdrawal in this area and panic in Lens. 25/09/1915: afternoon and evening - the 47th (London) Division continued to consolidate the positions it had won at the Double Crassier and Loos Crassier, and was ready as ordered to meet any counter-attack that might be delivered from the South. The 15th (Scottish) Division was in some difficulty, despite having succeeded in capturing Loos itself. Men were helplessly pinned down on the forward slope of Hill 70, and the artillery support that had been called for since 10.50am was only just beginning to happen. The enemy made a determined attempt, having reinforced this area, to envelop the troops lying out in the open and to force them towards the second German line. SEE PHOTOS x 18 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY SEPTEMBER 1915. Scottish Regiments lost a huge amount of brave men at Loos. Here is a list of Infantry Battalions who lost more than 500 men at the Battle of Loos from 25/09/1915 to 16/10/1915 - 7th Cameron Highlanders 687, of which 19 Officers, 9th Black Watch 680, of which 20 Officers, 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers 650, of which 20 Officers, 10th Highland Light Infantry 648, of which 20 Officers, 7th King's Own Scottish Borderers 631, of which 20 Officers, 8th Devons 619, of which 19 Officers, 8th Royal West Kents 580, of which 24 Officers, 8th Buffs 558, of which 24 Officers, 12th HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY 553, OF WHICH 23 OFFICERS, 8th Black Watch 511, of which 19 Officers, 5th North Staffordshire 505, of which 20 Officers, 8th Seaforth Highlanders 502, of which 23 Officers. Samuel was 1 of 99 men from the Coatbridge Memorial who fell during and from injuries from the Battle of Loos. Samuel was a member of the St. John's Church Lads Brigade. Samuel's main grave photo kindly donated by my friends Jimmy Lang and Dennis Beck who visited many Cemeteries in France and Belgium in April 2024 and the additional grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. Samuel is also remembered on the St. John's Church Roll of Honour (see photos) and in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for Samuel's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, Samuel's Pension Records x 3, Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, another photo of Samuel's grave and the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge. Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 17 FOR THE 15th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK 25th - 26th SEPTEMBER 1915, PHOTOS FOR 33 PAGES FROM THE MOST UNFAVOURABLE GROUND BOOK REGARDING THE BATTALION and DIVISION 25/09/1915 (fantastic book on the Battle of Loos kindly signed by the author Niall Cherry), the 15th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 13 (the Division he was with when he was wounded) and Newspaper clippings x 2 (Coatbridge Express x 1 and the Coatbridge Leader x 1).
