Andrew Arbuckle Reid

Killed in Action on the 01/08/1918 at the Battle of the Soissonais and of the Ourcq (part of the Battles of the Marne 1918)

The 1/5th Battalion were in Dumfries in August 1914 and were part of the South Scottish Brigade, Lowland Division. They moved to Bannockburn (Stirling) and Tillicoultry. On the 11/05/1915 the formation became 155th Brigade, 52nd (Lowland) Division. They sailed from Liverpool on the 24/05/1915 for service at Gallipoli. They landed there on the 06/06/1915. In January 1916 they moved via Mudros to Egypt. On the 17/04/1918 they moved with the Division and landed at Marseilles for service in France. On the 29th April the Division moved to Aire and took over a sector of front line near Vimy on the 6th May. On the 28/06/1918 the Battalion transferred to the reforming 103rd Brigade, 34th Division. Andrew and the Battalion took part in the Battle of the Soissonais and of the Ourcq, 23rd July - 2nd August 1918 in which they captured the Bagneux Ridge : During the afternoon of the 26th Major-General Nicholson had been warned by General Penet (XXX Corps) that the 34th Division would be shifted to the right to take part in the attack on the the 30th. So during the night of the 27th / 28th the infantry and the machine-gun Battalion of the 34th had been relieved, after considerable difficulties. Verbal orders were received at 11am on the 28th from the XXX Corps that the Division was to concentrate some five miles to the south-east, about the Bois de la Baillette, during the ensuing night, with a view of attacking in the direction of Beugneux and Grand Rozoy on the morning of the 29th. The sector allotted to the 34th had its front line in the valley of a small stream, and the objective lay westwards of Servenay for a little over a mile. To reach it the division had to make an advance uphill and then cross the high ground. Zero hour was 4.10am. At this time fog covered the ground, but the leading line, in which were the 1/8th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and 1/5th King's Own Scottish Borderers of the 103rd Brigade, and the 4th Royal Sussex and 2/4th Queen's of the 101st Brigade, each on a two-company front, pushed forward through a German barrage, which fell two hundred yards in front of the starting line and contained a belt of tear-gas. When further advances were made at a number of places, as far as the Bois de Beugneux (west of the village) and Point 189, north-west of the village, the Germans counter attacked. After a long deadlock and a struggle against machine-gun fire, the troops fell back about 2pm to the position gained at the first advance. This was part of the Battles of the Marne, 20th July - 2nd August 1918 : A British force takes part in Foch's very large scale and highly successful counter offensive of the Marne, which proves to be the start of an unbroken series of Allied successes. Andrew is 1 of 15 men from the 1/5th Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers who fell on the 01/08/1918 and are buried in Raperie British Cemetery. A huge thank you to Linda Robertson for all the family information regarding Andrew. He was formerly with the Highland Light Infantry (24585). Andrew was reburied in Raperie British Cemetery (see photos). See photos for Andrew'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, his Reburial Form x 3, another photo of Andrew's Grave, Rapiere British Cemetery, Andrew's Pension Records x 3, Andrew's former Regiment the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge and the King's Own Scottish Borderers Cap Badge. Andrew's grave inscription reads "ASLEEP IN JESUS".