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2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers
2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers were in Gibraltar when war broke out in August 1914. They returned to England, landing in September 1914 and joining 21st Brigade, 7th Division who were concentrating in the New Forest in Hampshire. The Division landed at Zeebrugge in the first week of October 1914, to assist in the defence of Antwerp, they arrived too late prevent the fall of the city and took up defensive positions at important bridges and junctions to aid in the retreat of the Belgian army. The 7th Division then became the first British Troops to entrench in front of Ypres, suffering extremely heavy losses in the The First Battle of Ypres. By February 1915 the Division had been reinforced to fighting strength and they were in action at The Battle of Neuve Chapelle, The Battle of Aubers, The Battle of Festubert, The second action of Givenchy and The Battle of Loos. On the 19th of December 1915 the 2nd Royal Scots transferred with 21st Brigade to 30th Division.
In 1916 they were in action during the Battle of the Somme, in which the Division captured Montauban. In 1917 they took part in the pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Arras Offensive and The Battle of Pilkem Ridge. In 1918 They were in action on The Somme and in the Battles of the Lys. On the 7th of April 1918 the Battalion transferred to 120th Brigade, 40th Division and on the 26th of April moved to South African Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. they fought on the Somme, in the Battles of the Lys and The Advance in Flanders, capturing the Outtersteene Ridge and seeing action in in the Battle of Courtrai and the action of Ooteghem. On the 13th of September 1918 they transferred to 28th Brigade still with 9th (Scottish) Division. They were resting in billets at the Armistice. 9th (Scottish) Division was selected be part of the occupation force and on the 4th of December they crossed into Germany to take up a position at the Cologne brideghead on the Rhine. In late February 1919, the original units were demobilised, being replaced by others and The Division was renamed the Lowland Division.
4th Oct 1914 Orders Received
5th Oct 1914 On the Move
6th Oct 1914 On the Move
7th Oct 1914 On the Move
8th Oct 1914 On the Move
9th Oct 1914 Orders
9th Oct 1914 Anxiety
10th Oct 1914 Withdrawal
11th Oct 1914 Hostile Forces
11th Oct 1914 Orders
12th Oct 1914 On the March
13th Oct 1914 Enemy Closes
14th Oct 1914 On the March
14th Oct 1914 On the March 
15th Oct 1914 Hostile Column
16th Oct 1914 On the March
16th Oct 1914 Line Advanced
17th Oct 1914 Enemy Active
18th Oct 1914 Planning
19th Oct 1914 Hard Fighting
20th Oct 1914 Enemy Attack
20th Oct 1914 Defensive Line
21st Oct 1914 Hard Fighting
22nd Oct 1914 Bombardment
23rd Oct 1914 Under Fire
24th Oct 1914 Enemy Break Through
25th Oct 1914 Enemy Break Through
26th Oct 1914 Forced Back
27th Oct 1914 Orders Received
28th Oct 1914 Artillery Active
29th Oct 1914 Hard Fighting
30th Oct 1914 Hard Fighting
31st Oct 1914 Hard Fighting
10th Nov 1914 Treated Well
20th Nov 1914 Relief
23rd Nov 1914 Relief Completed
26th Nov 1914 Reliefs
28th Nov 1914 Reliefs
2nd Dec 1914 Reliefs
21st Dec 1914 Reliefs
24th Dec 1914 Shelling
27th Dec 1914 Reliefs
30th Dec 1914 Poor Conditions
2nd Jan 1915 Reliefs
6th Jan 1915 Terrible Conditions
9th Jan 1915 Reliefs
12th Jan 1915 Very Wet
15th Jan 1915 Reliefs
18th Jan 1915 Reliefs
21st Jan 1915 Reliefs
24th Jan 1915 Reliefs
27th Jan 1915 Leave
30th Jan 1915 Reliefs
6th Feb 1915 Instruction
11th Mar 1915 Intense Cold
21st Sep 1915 Orders
26th Sep 1915 Counter Attack
27th Sep 1915 Reliefs
16th Oct 1915 The Derby Scheme
1st Dec 1915 Derby Scheme Armlets
11th Sep 1915 Last day of Derby Scheme Recruitment
1st of January 1916 Move
1st of January 1916 Night-time Shelling
2nd of January 1916 Direct Hits
10th Jan 1916 Group System Reopens
13th of January 1916 5th Division in Reserve
9th February 1916 Call Ups
1st Jul 1916 Thrilling Advance
1st Jul 1916 Montauban Captured
1st Jul 1916 Ammunition
13th Jul 1916 Address
23rd Apr 1917 Attack made
9th Jun 1917 Forward Area
10th Jun 1917 Reliefs
4th Jul 1917 Working Parties
5th Jul 1917 Working Parties
15th Jul 1917 Horse Show
16th Jul 1917 Practice attack
11th Sep 1917 Reliefs
24th Oct 1917 Attack Made
3rd Dec 1917 Attack Made
24th Aug 1918 Praise for 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers 2nd Battalion , Royal Scots Fusiliers Extract from Battalion Routine Orders by Lt-Colonel J.E. Utterson-Kelso, D.S.O., M.C. dated 24th August 1918.
The Commanding Officer desires to bring to the notice of all ranks his appreciation of the gallant conduct & fine spirit shewn by 'B' Company whilst holding the line on 18th August. During the progress of a minor operation on our right flank, an exceptionally heavy enemy barrage was put down on this Coy. area & was maintained throughout the greater part of the day. The behaviour and steadiness of the Company under the barrage in which they suffered nearly 50% casualties reflect the greatest credit on itself, and also on the Battalion. Signed: D.M. Nelson, Captain, A/Adjt. 2nd R.S. Fusiliers
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These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.
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Those known to have served with2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers during the Great War 1914-1918. - Arnold Charles Paul. Pte. (d.14th October 1918)
- Barker Arthur George. Pte. (d.13th May 1916)
- Biggs George. Pte. (d.23rd April 1917)
- Binns Reginald. Pte. (d.31st Jul 1916)
- Bonnar John. Sgt.
- Bowman Matthew Nielson. Cpl.
- Brown Joseph. Sgt. (d.12th Mar 1915)
- Brown Joseph. (d.21st May 1917)
- Brown William. Pte. (d.13th March 1915)
- Buckley John. Pte.
- Burtenshaw Percy. Pte. (d.30th July 1916)
- Chapman Percy. Pte. (d.28th Mar 1918)
- Crossan Bernard. Pte. (d.22nd March 1918)
- Dolan T.. Sgt. (d.13th May 1918)
- Drummond James. Pte. (d.16th May 1915)
- Duffield Charles. Cpl.
- Eady Amos. Pte. (d.30th July 1918)
- Fisher Charles Frederick. Pte.
- Geddes James. Pte. (d.27th Mar 1917)
- Gould Albert. Pte. (d.6th May 1918)
- Harris Arthur. Pte.
- Harris Arthur. Pte.
- Hodge John. Fus. (d.1st oct 1915)
- Jenkins Walter Cecil. Pte. (d.30th June 1916)
- Kennedy James. Pte. (d.27th Feb 1915)
- MacLeod Malcolm Murray. Cpl.
- Marples George Edwin. L/Cpl. (d.30th July 1916)
- McRobbie George. Pte. (d.9th July 1916)
- McSherry Terence. L/Cpl. (d.30th July 1915)
- McSherry Terence. L/Cpl. (d.30th July 1916)
- McSherry Terence. L/Cpl. (d.30th July 1916)
- Mellon Patrick. Pte. (d.13th March 1915)
- Mellon Patrick P.. (d.13th Mar 1915)
- Murdoch James. Pte. (d.1st Nov 1918)
- Nicholson George . (d.30th June 1916)
- Skidmore DCM William Elias. Sjt. (d.30th Jul 1916)
- Smart Lawrence. Pte. (d.30th July 1916)
- Stewart Stanely. Pte. (d.29th Aug 1917)
- Stringer Herbert. Sgt. (d.22nd Oct 1914)
- Turnbull Andrew. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918)
- Walker Jacob. Pte. (d.30th Jul 1916)
- Walker Robert Nicol. L/Cpl. (d.30th July 1916)
- West Robert. Pte.
- Whitlie Peter. Pte. (d.23rd April 1917)
- Wilson Samuel. Pte. (d.31st Oct 1914)
- Wolstenholme MM & Bar. William. Sgt.
All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please Add a Name to this List
Records of 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers from other sources.
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Pte. John Buckley 2nd Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers John Buckley was wounded in action in June 1915 and later discharged "as no longer being physically fit for war service"in October 1916 from a Military Hospital in Croydon, Surrey.
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Pte. Charles Paul Arnold 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers (d.14th October 1918) My Uncle Charles first served with the Labour Corps, then as a Signaller with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
He was born and grew up in Ayr, and died in Flanders on 14th of October 1918 just four weeks before Armistice. He is buried in the Dadizele New British Cemetery in Belgium. He served from 4th of December 1914 until is death at the age of 21 and four months.
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Pte. Arthur George Barker 2nd Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers (d.13th May 1916) Arthur Barker enlisted in September 1915 in Worthing Sussex, originally in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers.
by the 21st of September he was in Fort Matilda and was in the 2nd Battalion.
On the 30th of December 1915 he was posted to France.
He died on 13th of May 1916 in the Corbie Hospital, Corbie, from wounds received in action. He is buried in the Corbie Cemetery France.
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Pte. Percy Chapman 2nd Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers (d.28th Mar 1918) My Great-Uncle Percy Chapman was born in 1898, fifth of six children to George and Elizabeth.
He died on the 28th of March 1918, during the German offensive at Arras.
Younger brother to George Chapman.
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Cpl. Malcolm Murray "Calum" MacLeod 2/9th Btn. Glasgow Highlanders My grandfather, Malcolm MacLeod was born in 1898 and joined 2/9th Glasgow Highlanders in 1914. Records didn't survive but he left a book of photos put together at the Lord Derby War Hospital Winwick in 1918. He appears to have served at home until late 1917 or 1918 as he was in training camps in Essex in Spring 1917. What is certain is that he was mistakenly reported missing on 30th April while attached to 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers. By 5th May he was at Lord Derby War Hospital Winwick having a gunshot wound to left forehead and losing sight of left eye (but not eye itself). Looking at the war diaries for 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers at the Battle of the Lys it would appear he was part of the 40th Division being forced back by the German offensive and probably around Ridge Wood when (according to story passed down) he was inured by a splinter from the butt of his rifle.
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Sgt. William Wolstenholme MM & Bar. 2nd Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers My grandfather, William Wolstenholme served with 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. I have his campaign medals, Victory, British War Medal and 1914/15 Star and his Military Medal and Bar with Certificates.
William was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, 22 October 1886. His parents were Robert, a Cotton Mill worker and Phoebe nee Edmundson. They produced twelve children, five died in infancy. William was the second of their surviving children. He had an older sister, two younger brothers and three younger sisters.
When he left school, aged 14, he started work in a cotton mill progressing to weaver. When he was 16years 4months (3 February 1903) he joined the 6th Battalion Manchester Militia in Darwen, saying he was a year older. He had 49 days drill on enlistment. On 6th October 1903, again in Darwen, he was attested for the Royal Garrison Artillery. Four days later he transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. He was aged 16years 11 months; but said he was 18 years 1 month. He served for three years with The Colours then was transferred to The Reserve (5th October 1906).
He returned to Blackburn and mill work. He married Jane Neville 7 May 1910. When war was declared they had two children and William was mobilised 5 August 1914 as a Private; ‘You are hereby required to join the Royal Scots Fusiliers at Ayr on 5th of Aug 1914’.
The Battalion first arrived on the Western Front in October 1914. William joined them there as a Corporal 26th of July 1915. Promoted Sergeant 4th of September 1915. Awarded the Military Medal for ‘Gallant and Distinguished Conduct 31st of July 1917 at Ypres’. He stormed an enemy position with 8 men, took 50 prisoners & 2 machine guns (Blackburn Newspaper report – this report also said He had been wounded earlier in the War). The War Diary 31st of July 1917 records, 6.30am. C Coy captured 2 M. Guns and 50 prisoners at Railway Embankment off Menin Road.
My Grandfather obviously had leave to the UK around Christmas, New Year 1917/18. A son, James Neville Wolstenholme was born in September 1918. He was killed by a Japanese Booby-Trap in January 1945 (Serjeant, 3858344, 2nd RECCE Reg't. R.A.C.)
William was awarded the Bar to the Military Medal for Gallant and Distinguished Conduct in Action 21st to 28th of March 1918.
He was de-mobilised 12th March 1919. My father, Bill was born in July 1920, exactly 3 years to the day his father gained his first Military Medal.
William in March 1957. After leaving the Army he and my Grandmother started a bakery business for a while. He later became a Baptist Minister. He was also a motor-bike enthusiast.
I was only four years old when my grandfather died but feel very privileged to have inherited his WW1 papers and medals etc., I now research War Memorials in my adopted County, Norfolk.
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Sgt. T. Dolan 2nd Btn. Royal Scots (d.13th May 1918) Serjeant Dolan was the Son of Patrick and Mary Dolan; husband of Helen O'Donnell Dolan, of 29, Albert St., Edinburgh. Born at Berwick.
He was 34 when he died and is buried in The Hague Roman Catholic Cemetery in the Netherlands.
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Pte. Charles Frederick Fisher 2nd Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers Charles Fisher lost a leg in 1915 and was invalided out.
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Pte. Lawrence Smart 2nd Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers (d.30th July 1916) My mother, a niece of Lawrence Smart, died two years ago aged almost 105, the last person to have known him. Her memory of him was clear, as was her memory of the distress to his widowed mother and five siblings at his loss.
Until three years ago, the only information the family had was that he was killed in action. Thanks to Forces War records I found out where he is buried, the date of his death and the details of the battle at Guillemont in which he was killed, aged 26. This meant a great deal to my mother, even after nearly a century and, before she died, I visited his grave on her behalf.
She remembered him packing a kitbag before returning to France and wrapping puttees over his trousers. She asked him what they were for. He laughed and said it was to stop the rats running up his legs. Until near the end of her life she thought he was just joking with a little girl. Sadly, there is no photo of him, only her description.
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Pte. Bernard Crossan 2nd Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers (d.22nd March 1918) Bernard Crossan was killed in action on the 22nd of March 1918.
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Pte. William Brown 2nd Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers (d.13th March 1915) William Brown was my great uncle and I only knew about him by doing family research. His story was rather sad. He had a son early on in the war but he died. He must have got leave before going over to France and his wife Dora had a baby girl who was named Williamina. William died at the Battle of Neuve-Chapelle. Unfortunately, his daughter died when she was three years of age. His wife remarried and William's direct line came to an end.
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Joseph Brown 2nd Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers (d.21st May 1917) Joseph Brown was born in Carlisle on 17th of July 1879. He married Catherine Duff from Ayr in 1905 while stationed at Ayr Barracks with the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He retired from the army, had 4 children (3 of which survived) and rejoined the Royal Scots Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, arriving in France in September 1914.
Joseph's battalion suffered grave losses at the 1st Battle of Ypres, and Joseph was sent home with 'stress of active service' in November 1914. He was declared insane and died in Garlands Asylum, Carlisle on 21st of May 1917 aged 37.
Joseph was accepted for commemoration by the Commonwealth Grave Commission in May 2015, after the In from the cold project presented his case. A gravestone was erected in 2016, almost 99 years after his death.
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L/Cpl. Terence McSherry 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers (d.30th July 1916) L/Cpl Terence McSherry was my great uncle. My father was named after him although he never met him. Terence died during the attack on Guillemont on 30th July 1916 when the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers were all but obliterated.
I am still trying to find a photograph of him.
I will be visiting Theipval & Guillemont in July 2016 to mark the 100th anniversary of his death.
Terence's older brother James 7th (Leith) Battalion, The Royal Scots was killed in the Quintinshill Rail Disaster, near Gretna on 22nd May 1915 whilst enroute to fight in Gallipoli.
Both brothers were lost at the young age of 24.
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L/Cpl. Terence McSherry 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers (d.30th July 1916) Terence McSherry was my Great Uncle. My Father was named after him. I do not have a photograph of Terence, although I continue my search to find one.
Terence's older brother, Pte James McSherry, 7th Battalion (Leith) died whilst enroute to Gallipoli in the Quintinshill Rail Disaster on 22nd May 1915.
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Pte. Peter Whitlie 2nd Btn Royal Scots Fusiliers (d.23rd April 1917) Peter Whitlie joined the 3rd battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers on the 26th June 1916 and then transferred on 5th October 1916 to the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers.
He was posted to France on 5th Oct 1916. Between 26th March and 14th April 1917 he was attending a course at the School of Cookery. He returned to the 2nd Battalion RSF on 15th April and was killed in action on 23rd April 1917. His name is on the missing at Arras memorial.
He was married with three young children. The youngest was born 24th April 1916. He was married at Paxton on 28th Dec 1912. The family lived at Ayton when Peter was called up. His widow was awarded a pension of 26/3 a week for herself and three children. She spent some months trying to get this. The local vicar wrote on her behalf.
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L/Cpl. Terence McSherry 2nd Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers (d.30th July 1915) Terence McSherry was my great uncle, and the uncle my father Terry was named after. If anyone has a photograph of him, we would be very grateful to see it.
Terence's brother James died in the Quintinshill Rail Disaster 22nd May 1915 on his way with his unit the 1/7th Battalion (Leith) Royal Scots to serve in Gallipoli.
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Pte. Robert West 2nd Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers I don't know much about my father's time during WW1 I have his regimental numbers, he was Pte 40420 Robert West in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and 6157 in Royal Scots. He was wounded in 1917 and sent to Yeovil Hospital. Any help would be appreciated.
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Pte. Arthur Harris 2nd Btn. D Coy. Royal Scots Fusilliers Arthur Harris joined 9th Service Battalion, York and Lancs Regiment in 1914 (a Battalion is a unit made up of between 800 and 1000 men). His Regimental number was 14432.
His medals record card shows he entered the "Flanders theatre of war" on 27th August 1915. This is the date of his arrival in Boulogne as a soldier of the 8th and 9th Service Battalion of the Y&L's to join the 23rd Division, a new army division, the so-called "Kitchener's New Army" or "K3" as it was officially designated.
His unit established itself in the area around Tilques in France and subsequently was engaged in various actions on the Western Front.
On 2nd July 1916 he was wounded in the leg by enemy machine-gun fire during the first or second day of the Battle of Albert, (the opening action in the Battle of the Somme). He was treated in the field at No 3 Casualty Clearing Station in Puchevillers, Pickardie and recuperated at No.9 Base Hospital on the racecourse at Rouen. In consequence of this and of the unit decimation and chaos of the Somme Offensive, he was transferred to D Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. This was his unit until his demobilisation at the end of the war. His Royal Scots Fusiliers service number was 43468.
His rank was Private throughout his service. His discharge documents show both of his regimental service numbers and his military occupation at discharge as “Officer’s Servant†(Batman). His military commendation says “First-class shot", a thought-provoking compliment indeed .
His Lt Col’s recommendation for employment says “Smart and Intelligentâ€.
He was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914/15 Star. The 1914/15 Star was awarded to all who served under fire in any theatre of war against Germany between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915, except for those eligible for the 1914 Star (the so-called Mons Star, awarded to those serving under fire during The retreat from Mons - 1914). These three service medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.
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Pte. Walter Cecil Jenkins 2nd Btn Scots Fusiliers (d.30th June 1916)  Walter Jenkins was born in Reigate in 1896 and was baptised on 19 July 1896 at St Phillips Church, Nutley Lane, Reigate. He was the son of Walter and Fanny Jane (nee Bryant) Jenkins. In 1901 they were living at 6 Nutley Lane Reigate, and in 1911 they had moved to Clyde Cottages, New North Road, South Park, Reigate.
Walter enlisted at Guildford Surrey into the Scots Fusilier’s 2nd Battalion, Service No 16863. He first went to France on 30 July 1915. He was killed in action on 30 July 1916, probably at the Battle of the Somme, his body was never found. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial and was awarded the 1915 star, British and Victory Medals
From Surrey Mirror dated 1 June 1917:
"Pte. Walter Cecil Jenkins Royal Scots Fusiliers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins of South Park, reported missing on 30 July 1916, is now reported killed on that date. He started his career at Dale’s Nursery Reigate, from whence he went to Hethersett Gardens and upper Gatton Park and later to Cobham. He made rapid advance as a gardener, and before he was 18 years of age went to a good berth in Belgium in the early part of 1914. He escaped from Belgium at Christmas in that year, after some exciting experiences, and it was with great joy to all his friends when he suddenly turned up, as nothing but one post card had been received from him since the outbreak of war. He had a fortnight’s holiday, and joined up in the Royal Scots Fusiliers. After six months training in Scotland he went to France in July 1915. Having been wounded in the ankle by Shrapnel, he was three months in hospital, and went out again in March 1916. In the following July he was in the big push, and was then as stated above reported missing. Now the news has arrived that he was killed. He was only 20 years of age, and had given promise of considerable success in life."
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Pte. James Drummond 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers (d.16th May 1915) My Great Grandfather, James Drummond, who joined the Royal Scots at 19 yrs old in 1914 and was killed in action at the Battle of Festubert France on 16 May 1915 leaving his only son William aged 4 (my grandfather) an orphan as his wife Catherine had died previously. My grandfather was left with his bloodstained and holed army paybook and some letters written by his friend J Anderson and sent to his aunt Jean who was looking after little Willie while he was away fighting for King & Country.
I include some excerpts from letters sent home. one in particular sent the day before he was killed where he mentions how lucky he is by "not stopping a bullet"
Dear Aunt and Uncle
I now take the pleasure of answering your kind and welcome letter and parcel I was very glad to receive it. Did you get the letter about Johnny Gallagher Garrety and Mather Mulhand that he has not come to this battalion he must have gone to the first battalion. You was saying I was very lucky that I have not stopped one but it will be a lucky one that will see it over. Bobby as you was telling me is he not thinking about coming out and having a shot of this ……….. as I have been holding it all the winter for Johnny G.
Dear Aunt and Uncle I will now draw this letter to a close.
From your nephew James.
With love to Willie and Aunt and Uncle
God spare Big Will’s strength to work and we will do a bit for him when he gets old.
Dear Mrs Black
I now write these few lines just to let you know that your nephew James Drummond got killed in action on Sunday 16 May he did not linger long he got struck with a shell and got killed instantly. Well Mrs Black all the men of this company express their feelings of regret and all his friends and especially his little son who will be left without any parents. I buried him at the same spot where he got killed we all went through a terrible day just after he died but it will cost a few more lives yet
before we beat the Germans. The sergeant of the company got his parcel and divided it among all the men as they thought there was no use sending it back.
Well Mrs Black I know it will be a hard blow to you but I had to let you know that he died fighting for his King and country and he was a good soldier.
I think I will stop now as I can’t express our feelings any more.
Hope you will answer this just to let me know you received it.
I remain one of his chums.
James Anderson
To Mrs Black
I received your kind and welcome letter and was glad to see by it that you received mind but was very sorry to hear you were lying ill but I hope by the time you receive this you will be alright again. I know it will be a long time before you get over it. As I told you before he died a heroes death far better than some able bodied men who I expect are still knocking about the street corners of Glasgow at the present time. But I don’t know what they would do if the Germans were coming to Britain. Well Mrs
Black I am writing this letter and all the time the guns are roaring. We have just come out of the trenches for a few days rest I’ve been through a few battles myself but I have been home for a few weeks. I got wounded at the battle Aisne but if I get home again I will come through to you and let you know everything. I was making a cross for his grave but we got orders to shift I am very sorry to tell you that I did not finish it. You were asking me for his small book but we had to had it in to the Sergeant so you will get everything from Headquarters. The only thing we are frightened of now is poisonous gas they are using. Well I think I will draw to a close as I have no more to say. I hope to see you soon.
I remain yours, most sincerely.
Private J Anderson.
Xxxxx to the little boy from me
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