Robert Lyall Watson

The 13th (Service) Battalion arrived in France in July 1915 and were part of the 45th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division when Robert fell. Robert arrived in France on the 03/10/1915 as part of the 12th (Service) Battalion Royal Scots until the 08/07/1916 when he received a shrapnel wound to the middle of the back of the left thigh. He left Hospital on the 05/10/1916. He joined the 13th (Service) Battalion on the 13/03/1917. Robert was Killed in Action at the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe, 23rd - 24th April 1917. This was part of the Arras Offensive 9th April -16th June 1917 : Once again the British are called upon to launch an attack in support to a larger French offensive: the battles of the Chemin des Dames and the hills of Champagne. The opening Battle of Vimy and the First Battle of the Scarpe are very encouraging, but once again the offensive - often known as the Battle of Arras - bogs down into an attritional slog. Final attempts to outflank the German lines at Bullecourt prove terribly costly. Robert is also remembered on the Alyth War Memorial (see photos x 2). See photos for Robert'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 Scotland National Probate Index 1918, his Service Records x 22, Robert's Pension Record x 2 (Private Andrew Symington also listed) and the Royal Scots Cap Badge. Finally, see photos of Private Andrew Symington's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, the Cameron Highlanders Cap Badge, Andrew's Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls from the 2nd Boer War, South Africa, his CWGC Grave Registration and his name on the Menin Gate Memorial Panel List.