Hopes fade for missing brother

A Bannockburn man had news from the front that his brother was missing and probably dead.

Pte William Durham joined 7th A&SH a year earlier and had been in France for several months.

In a letter to his brother John, a joiner of Gowanlea, Bannockburn, Lt RG Hunter said Pte Durham was among No 3 platoon when they were involved in an attack on German trenches on November 15. He had not been seen since.

“None of his mates in A Company know what happened to him as they never saw him after he went over the parapet,” the letter said..

“We are very much afraid that he was hit by a big shell and killed instantly.

“There is, of course, just a chance that he reached the German trench and has been taken prisoner but I am sorry that I can put little faith in it.”

Pte Durham, a joiner to trade, served his apprenticeship with Messrs Short & Fairful then worked with brother John.

He had emigrated to Canada eight years earlier but returned shortly before the outbreak of war.

The paper said: “He was a fine example of the typical Scot: well built, intelligent and of a persevering nature and had all the native courage which had asserted itself on the various battle fronts since the war began.”

Lt Hunter also paid tribute to Pte Durham, describing him as a good and trustworthy soldier who had a steadying influence over younger members of the platoon.