William Park

MORE FAMILY INFORMATION - Janet Morton Park (10/06/1882 - 19/02/1937), Mary Park (05/02/188 4- ), William Park (25/05/1885 - 26/09/1915), Robert Russell Park (25/05/1887 - 24/06/1959), Marion Russell Park (04/08/1889 - 1969), Elizabeth Park (03/12/1891 - 27/12/1892), Alexander Park (11/08/1898 - 28/10/1957) and Margaret Russell Park (12/09/1900 - 02/04/1901). William also had a brother William (09/07/1881 - 10/07/1881). William and the Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 11/07/1915 and were part of the 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. The Battle of Loos : 25th of September - 15th of 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. On the opening day (morning) : In the centre the 15th (Scottish) Division : In this sector the gas cloud hung back, causing delays and some losses to the advancing troops. Although the infantry had only 200 yards to cross from the heads of the Russian saps, the gas and smoke only covered them for the first 40 yards, and as men emerged into the clear, two German machine-guns swept twice across the advancing line, causing many casualties. The afternoon and evening : 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. On the 26th September - 5.00am: Orders are received by 15th (Scottish) Division. Reinforced by 21st Division, they are to recapture Hill 70 with an attack at 9.00am. It was proving virtually impossible to move artillery forward to support this attack, and ammunition supplies were dwindling, fresh ones being held up in traffic. The attack would be supported by artillery firing from their original positions, and the second German line would barely be touched. A bombardment of two rounds per gun per minute was ordered. In confusion, some units did not receive an order to withdraw from the most advanced positions, and British shells fell on their own infantry in places. Many infantry units did not receive orders to attack until 7.00am, and in at least one case, 8.00am. 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. William was 1 of many men from the Memorial who fell in the first 3 days of the Battle of Loos. He was 1 of 99 men from the Coatbridge Memorial who fell during and from injuries from the Battle of Loos. William is also remembered on the Stewarts and Lloyds Roll of Honour, the Airdrie War Memorial x 2, at the Family Plot in New Monkland Cemetery (see photos) and in the St. Augustines Parish (book) Roll of Honour. 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 x 2, William's Pension Records x 2, Chocques Military Cemetery and the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge.