Alexander Russell Rankin

The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 09/07/1915 and were part of the 44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. Alexander arrived in France on the 03/10/1915. Alexander was Killed in Action at the 1st Battle of Arras, 28th March 1918 (German Offensive 1918) : On February 3rd orders were issued for the relief of the 4th Division by the 15th (Scottish) Division. 2 days later the move commenced, when Divisional Headquarters moved from Noyelle-Vion to Arras. That day the 44th Brigade took over the right section. Early in March it was established without a doubt that the German attack would soon be delivered, and the Division proceeded to prepare. At midnight on the 27th / 28th the 44th Brigade was disposed as - 2 Companies of the 7th Cameron Highlanders in the front line, Minorca Trench, with the right Company in touch with the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment, 76th Brigade, 3rd Division, and the other 2 Companies in Nova Scotia Trench. On the morning of the 28th the long-expected attack took place. The historian of the 7/8th King's Own Scottish Borderers aptly describes the commencement of the enemy operation : "If ever the lid was taken off hell, it must have been on March 28, 1918." At 3am on the 28th the enemy opened an extremely heavy bombardment with gas and high explosive along the whole of the Divisional front, especially on the part held by the 44th and 45th Brigades. On the right the front line held by the 7th Camerons and the right of the 3rd Division had been obliterated by the bombardment. Few of the Camerons occupying it remained alive, but those who survived opened a heavy fire on the dense masses of Germans, who, under cover of the smoke and dust, could be seen about 100 yards away advancing from Minorca Trench. On the right the enemy had no difficulty in getting round the right flank of the surviving Camerons. Very few men of the leading Companies were left to tell what occurred. The flanks of both were annihilated. Not an Officer or a man of the 3 Platoons on the left or the 1 on the right returned, and only 1 of the next 2 Platoons came back". This Battle was part of the 1st Battles of the Somme, 21st March - 5th April 1918 : After transferring very large forces from the now-collapsed Eastern Front, the German Army commits to a series of large-scale offensives. The first, Operation Michael, strikes the British Fifth and Third Armies. A deep advance is made and inflicts large losses, although the second phase, Operation Mars, at Arras on the 28th March, is soon held. In the crisis, the Allies decide at Doullens to appoint French General Foch as co-ordinator, and soon enough, as Generalissimo. Before enough French and British reserves are finally assembled to hold the German advance before it captures the critical railway junctions at Amiens. Alexander is also remembered on the Coats Parish Church Roll of Honour and at the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery (see photos). See photos for Alexander's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Arras Memorial Panel List, his name on the Arras Memorial x 2, his Pension Records x 2, action on the 28/03/1918 from the 15th (Scottish) Division book x 5 and the Cameron Highlanders Cap Badge