Malcolm Stafford

The 1st Battalion were based in Maryhill Barracks in Glasgow in August 1914. They left by train for Southampton late on the 13/08/1914. Next day, they embarked on the S.S. "Caledonia" and sailed. On the 15/08/1914 they landed at Le Havre as Lines of Communication troops. Malcolm arrived at Boulogne with the 10th (Service) Battalion on the 11/07/1915. The 1st Battalion were part of the 19th Brigade, 33rd Division when Malcolm fell. From the War Diaries: "5th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) - 29th October 1916 : Orders were received for the front-line company to attack the German trench opposite - HAZY TRENCH - in conjunction with The Cameronians on the right. "D" Company attacked; "A" in support; at 5.45 a.m. Three platoons of "D" Company deployed on the parapet and assaulted slightly before The Cameronians. Immediately the men crossed the parapet, machine gun fire was opened on them by 3 or 4 machine guns. The guns were believed to be in shell holes in advance of HAZY TRENCH. The result was that, after going about 50 yards, the attacking platoons were so much reduced in numbers that although some men got within 20 yards of the enemy's trench they were unable to effect anything. The remnants of the company lay down in NO MAN's LAND unable to move. Captain D.D. Clarkson, in command of the company, seeing that the attack was not proceeding well, put in three sections of his reserve platoon. These men had hardly crossed the parapet when they were caught by machine gun fire. The whole attack was over in less than two minutes". Appendix to War Diary, October 28th 1916 - "19th INFANTRY BRIGADE ORDER NO. 187 : (1) Order No. 166 is cancelled. (2) The 19th Infantry Brigade will attack HAZY TRENCH tomorrow morning, but not BORITSKA. (3) The attack will be done with a rush at 5.45 a.m. tomorrow morning by The Cameronians and 5th Scottish Rifles. (4) The objectives are as follows: - (a) 1st Cameronians. From junction of BORITSKA and HAZY TRENCHES to T.5.a.9.6, where HAZY TRENCH crosses the track. (b) 5th Scottish Rifles. From T.5.a.9.6 to Northern end of HAZY TRENCH. On objectives being gained outposts will be pushed forward to the North and North-East. (5) There will be no artillery barrage before the attack. (a) at 5.48 a.m. a stead Field Artillery barrage will open 150 yards East of HAZY TRENCH, and across BORITSKA TRENCH, 100 yards South-East of its junction with HAZY. (b) The ground farther East will also be bombarded by our own artillery and that of the Divisions on the right and left. (6) Immediately HAZY TRENCH is captured the following will be carried out:- (a) A block will be made at the junction of BORITSKA and HAZY TRENCHES by the 1st Cameronians". Malcolm's death was not confirmed until November 1918. Malcolm was wounded at Loos in September 1915 and was hospitalised in Hope Hospital, Manchester with 4 wounds to his body. Malcolm is also remembered on the Coats Parish Church Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for Malcolm's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Thiepval Memorial, his name on the Thiepval Memorial Panel List and the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge.