Hundreds attend Arras commemorations

HUNDREDS of people have attended services in Scotland and France in memory of the 18,000 Scots killed in the Battle of Arras on the centenary of the conflict.

Descendants of soldiers who died joined dignitaries, military personnel and veterans in a service at the National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle last night.

Earlier in the day relatives of those who died were joined by young people and dignitaries at Faubourg d’Amiens cemetery in Arras, France, for the WW100 Scotland service led by the Right Rev Dr Russell Barr, Moderator of the Church of Scotland.

Arras had the highest concentration of Scottish troops fighting in a single battle during the First World War, and 44 of the 120 battalions that made up the 10 British assault divisions were Scottish.

The service at the Scottish National War Memorial was conducted by the Rev Dr Karen Campbell, Legion Scotland Padre, who said the battle had left an “irreparable tear” in communities across Scotland.

The Battle of Arras, which took place between April 9 and May 16 1917, was part of a planned offensive by British and French forces. The average daily casualty rate was 4,076, which was higher than that at the Somme.

Of the approximate total 159,000 casualties, about a third were Scottish and of those Scots injured an estimated 18,000 lost their lives. QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. Proportional representation. 2.Trachea. 3. India. 4. Whale. 5. Narcissus. 6. Orville & Wilbur. Link: BOTTLE.