The Battalion arrived at Le Havre as Lines of Communication troops on the 15/08/1914 aboard the S.S. "Caledonia" and were part of the 19th Brigade, 33rd Division when Peter fell. Peter was Killed just 8 days after his 21st birthday as the German Army were in retreat all along the line. He fell along with 13 comrades as the Battalion liberated the village of Clary. This was part of the pursuit to the Selle which was a part of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line, 12th September - 12th October 1918 : A series of very large-scale offensive operations that advance to and break the Hindenburg Line system. Carried out by the First, Third and Fourth Armies these victories rank among the greatest-ever British military achievements. The German Army fights on but it is increasingly clear that their ability to do so is declining fast. SEE PHOTOS x 12 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FOR OCTOBER 1918. Peter's Battalion famously refused to play football, or otherwise fraternise with the enemy, on Christmas Day in 1914. According to the Advertiser on the 02/11/1918 Peter had been a distinguished student at the Coatbridge Technical School (he is NOT listed on their Roll of Honour). See Directory for Peter's cousin Private Charles Mead's page. Peter is listed as PRIVATE on the Coatbridge Memorial. He was formerly with the Highland Light Infantry (27189). On the 100th Anniversary of Peter's death the Village of Clary in France held a ceremony dedicated to Peter and 13 of his comrades who fell liberating the Village. Peter's nephew Peter Flanagan and his great niece Iris McCann were the only relatives of the 14 to attend the ceremony after the Cameronians Family Association couldn't trace any of the other relatives. They were presented with the French Medal of Honour posthumously awarded to Peter. See photos for pics of the ceremony, Peter's Medal and Newspaper articles. This information was kindly sent to me by Peter's relative Philip and a family extremely proud of this brave young man and also thanks to Iris for the family information and Jim Millar (Peter's nephew) for the mention of the Plaque in Clary and its replica presented to Hamilton Low Parks Museum, his support regarding the website and finally an extract from a letter sent from the trenches by Peter to his Mum on Boxing Day 1917. It mentions his "old pal" Pat Croal who was Killed in Action in November 1917 (see photos and Directory for Patrick Croal's page). Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. Peter is also remembered on the St. Patrick's Church and St. Augustine's Churches (books) Rolls of Honour. Peter was reburied in the Highland Cemetery (see photos). See photos for Peter's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 4, another 2 photos of Peter's Grave, his CWGC Grave Registration, his Headstone Report x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, the Highland Cemetery, his previous Regiment the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge, the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge, Peter's Pension Records x 2 and the Pursuit to the Selle map which shows the liberation of the Village of Clary.
