The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 20/09/1915 but soon moved and by November 1915 was at Salonika. They were part of the 77th Brigade, 26th Division. William was Killed in Action at the 3rd Battle of Doiran. The Battle was fought from the 18th September to the 19th September 1918, with the Greeks and the British assaulting the positions of the Bulgarian First Army near Dojran Lake. The Battle ended with the Bulgarians repulsing all attacks. The Battle : On the left, the British XII Corps made up of the 22nd and 26th Divisions, reinforced by the Greek Seres division was to attack the difficult Pip Ridge. The British concentrated 231 pieces of artillery, including heavy 8 inch howitzers. The bombardment took place over two days, included gas shells and concluded with a rolling barrage behind which the infantry was to advance. The British spent the time before the battle practicing and preparing for the assault. Facing them was the Bulgarian 9th Pleven Division with 122 guns, in very well prepared defences. On September 19th, the XII Corps attacked again. Because the XVI Corps attacks north of the lake had failed, the XII Corps would attack alone. The Greek Seres Division repeated the previous day's performance, taking some Bulgarian trenches before being thrown back by heavy artillery, machine gun fire and counterattacks. The British attacked with the 77th Brigade, the weakened 65th Brigade, and later the 2nd French Zouaves. The 77th Brigade took some Bulgarian trenches, but it was in an exposed position, being hammered by artillery and eventually retreated before the Bulgarians counter-attacked. The Brigade suffered about 50% casualties. 10 days after William's death Bulgaria (Germany's ally) surrendered and this piece of the War was over. Casualties in the Salonika campaign - Killed : 146 Officers and 2,653 other ranks, Died of wounds : 76 Officers and 1,349 other ranks, Died of disease : 103 Officers and 4,110 other ranks, Wounded : 794 Officers and 16,214 other ranks, Missing / Prisoners : 118 Officers and 2,556 other ranks, Totals : 1,237 Officers and 26,882 other ranks. William was formerly with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles Service Number 33091). Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. See photos for William's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Doiran Military Cemetery, William's Pension Records x 3, his previous Regiment the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge and the Royal Scots Fusiliers Cap Badge. Finally, see photos x 14 for the 26th Division Order of Battle (the Division he was serving with when he died).
