Robert Templeton

On the 11/05/1915 the Battalion were part of the 156th Brigade, 52nd (Lowland) Division. They sailed from Liverpool on the 24/05/1915, going via Egypt to Gallipoli, arriving there on the 14/06/1915. On the 17/04/1918 they moved with the Division and landed at Marseilles for service in France. On the 28/06/1918 the Battalion was transferred to the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division.The Battle of the Soissonais and of the Ourcq, 23rd July - 2nd August 1918 : 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 Bagneux and Grand Rozoy on the morning of the 29th. The troops moved off at 9pm and reached the position of assembly, west of a light railway, by 1am on the 29th without incident. At 4.10am fog covered the ground, but the leading line, in which were the 1/8th Scottish Rifles and 1/5th K.O.S.B. of the 103rd Brigade, and the 4/R Sussex and 2/4th Queens 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. Good progress of over a mile was made; so towards 6 am a short halt was ordered. When further advances were made at a number of places, as far as the Bois de Bagneux (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 a phase 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. Robert is also remembered on the Coats Parish Church Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for Robert's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Soissons Memorial Panel List, Robert's Pension Records x 2, his name on the Soissons Memorial x 2 and the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge.