HEROES OF ARRAS
100 years ago this Sunday, Scots soldiers went over the top into one of World War I’s bloodiest battles. 18,000 of them never came home..
Aileen Liddell discovered that her great uncle William was a hero with the Royal Scots at the Battle of Arras in northern France and died, aged 23, on May 10, 1917.
William Stewart Liddell was one of more than 18,000 Scots soldiers who died at Arras. They will be remembered on Sunday – 100 years after the carnage started.
Mum-of-two Aileen, 51, said: “The family were vaguely aware that some relatives had served in World War I but we didn’t have details.
“I started to do some digging and after going through the records, I found out about William and how he died at Arras. It was very touching to find such a personal connection.”
Carer Aileen discovered that her great uncle William was born in West Lothian in 1894, one of nine children. Her son Euan visited William’s grave when he toured the battlefields on a recent school trip.
She added: “It was great for Euan to visit his grave and see how many people made the ultimate sacrifice. It meant a lot as nobody in the family knew of William’s existence.”
Aileen also has a copy of William’s will, which he made on April 3, 1917 – just five weeks before his death – as well as information about his grave including the inscription requested by his mother.
The news comes after a soldier’s letter from the Western Front to his sister was made public.
The Black Watch’s David Wyllie wrote from the battlefield of Arras in 1917. His note was found in the pocket of his uniform after he died.
The letter read: “We had anything but a pleasant time of it. I would not mind if I was at home now.”
Margaret Barr – wife of the Rt Rev Dr Russell Barr, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland – will lay flowers on the grave of her great uncle David in Arras at the weekend.
Her husband will lead prayers at a special centenary service to recognise the sacrifice of soldiers.
Arras is considered by many as the most significant battle of World War I for Scots. There was a higher concentration of Scottish troops fighting there than at any other World War I conflict.
The Battle of Arras – between April 9 and May 16, 1917 – was part of a planned offensive by British and French forces. Forty-four of the 120 battalions that made up the 10 British assault divisions were Scottish.
On average, there were 4076 casualties every day – a rate higher than the Somme or the Third Battle of Ypres. An estimated 159,000 allies were killed in the Arras carnage.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop said: “The Battle of Arras is of huge significance to Scotland’s commemorative calendar.
“The casualties had a devastating impact on those back home at the time and resonate to this day in our collective memory.”
Scots will play a key role in international commemorations with a service at the Faubourg d’Amiens Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Arras conducted by Rt Rev Dr Barr.
During the evening, the band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland will conduct a beating retreat in the Place des Heros.
In Edinburgh on Sunday, a service will be held at the Scottish National War Memorial at 6.30pm, followed by a beating retreat by the Band of HM Royal Marines Scotland on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade at 7.30pm.
“Legion Scotland Sweetheart” Amy Hawthorn will lead the singing of anthems of nations represented at the Arras service, which will be attended by 72 schoolchildren representing every local authority in Scotland.
They will be joined by a matching number of schoolkids from France and Canada, as well as 12 Army cadets from across Scotland. ● Anyone in Scotland wishing to join in the Arras commemorations should go to Edinburgh Castle esplanade at 6.30pm on Sunday. The service in the Scottish National War Memorial will be broadcast on a screen ahead of the beating of the retreat at 7.30pm. For information, visit ww100scotland.com