DURING the war that was supposed to end all wars, it was the battle that saw the largest number of Scottish soldiers killed, and yesterday descendants of those soldiers gathered to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Arras in northern France. An estimated 18,000 Scots lost their lives at Arras, renowned as the battle which saw the fiercest close quarters fighting of the entirety of World War I.
Arras, which took place from April 9 to May 16, 1917, had the highest concentration of Scottish troops fighting in a single battle on the Western Front, with an estimated 40,000-plus Scottish soldiers on the battlefield.
The author John Buchan later claimed that seven times as many Scots fought at Arras as fought at Bannockburn, with the majority of them volunteers like Buchan’s own brother Alastair who was killed on the first day of the battle.
Yesterday there were services in France and Scotland to mark the centenary.
Relatives of those who died were joined by young people and dignitaries for the WW100 Scotland service led by the Right Rev Dr Russell Barr, Moderator of the Church of Scotland, at Faubourg d’Amiens cemetery in Arras.
His wife Margaret was among those attending the service.
She laid flowers on the grave of her great uncle, David Wyllie, who lost his life in battle at the age of 29.
Born in 1888, David was the eldest son of Robert and Jane Wyllie from North Berwick. He was shot and fatally injured during the six-week battle.
Among those present was cadet Melissa Rodger, 14, from Motherwell, whose great-great uncle Private Samuel Rodger of the Cameron Highlanders, died in the fighting on May 3 1917.
In a symbolic gesture, a school pupil from Scotland and one from France laid a wreath together on behalf of the UK, French, Canadian, New Zealand, Australian and South African nations who fought in the battle. Singer Amy Hawthorn from West Lothian led the singing of the national anthems.
Wreaths were laid by Lord Llewellyn, British Ambassador to France; M Marc Del Grande, Secretary General of the Pas de Calais Prefecture; Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Vice Chair of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and husband of the Princess Royal; M Frederique Leturque, Mayor of Arras; and Professor Norman Drummond, Chair of the Scottish Commemorations Panel.
Yesterday morning’s Service was followed by an evening Beating Retreat by the Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland in Place des Héros in Arras.
The Battle of Arras saw an average daily casualty rate of 4,076, which was higher than that at the Somme or Passchendaele.
Of the approximate total 159,000 casualties, around a third were Scottish and of those Scots injured an estimated 18,000 lost their lives – the equivalent population of a Scottish town such as Peterhead or St Andrews or about the capacity of the Hearts stadium at Tynecastle.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who had travelled to France for the commemorations, said: “Forty-four Scottish battalions and seven Scottish-named Canadian battalions took part in the Battle of Arras – the highest concentration of Scottish troops fighting in a single battle during World War I.
“Pupils representing every local authority in Scotland are in Arras this weekend to learn more about its impact. These young people are not much younger than many of those who fought in the battle – many of whom never returned to Scotland.
“Education is an important part of our commemorative programme – ensuring pupils understand the impact and significance of the battle, and share what they have learned with their peers and wider community.”
In Scotland the commemorations saw dozens of people gather in Greenock for a short service at the Well Park memorial, which was attended by local politicians and veterans.
In Edinburgh an evening commemorative service was held within the Scottish National War Memorial followed by a Beating Retreat by the Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.
Among those attending in Edinburgh was Margery Mackay, whose uncle Donald Gunn Mackay was killed during the battle after many months of continuous service on the front line in Egypt and France.
His niece later found Mackay’s last letter home. She said: “Growing up, I knew I had an uncle who had died in World War I but didn’t know the details until I was older.
“What I did know was that the family were devastated by his death and that no one joined the Army after that, despite nearly all of the men being involved in the Highland regiments up to that point.
“Scotland, in proportion to the rest of the UK, had the greatest losses in the Battle of Arras. And Donald’s battalion, which included many of his Edinburgh work colleagues, was practically wiped out in the weeks of fierce fighting that followed. Donald’s body was never found so we cannot visit his grave but his name is on the memorial in Arras. I will be going along to the centenary commemorations and will be very proud to be honouring my uncle and all the other young men who fought so bravely at Arras.”
The WW100 Scotland events were organised by the Scottish Commemorations Panel with Legion Scotland, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the armed forces in Scotland.
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