Learning terrible truth from Arras

Across Stirlingshire, towns and villages were counting the cost of the latest major push on the Western Front.

Fighting around the northern French city of Arras began in early April, with three Scottish divisions taking part in the offensive.

They fought with other soldiers of Scottish extraction who had emigrated to Canada and were among the Canadian forces involved.

Most of the Observer’s village news columns carried snippets on local lads who had been injured in the latest effort to breach German lines.

In Bannockburn Mr Buchanan received a letter from his son William, explaining he had been wounded in the leg by shrapnel while taking part with the Canadian contingent in the assault on Vimy Ridge.

Four divisions of Canadian troops stormed, captured and held the ridge but suffered almost 11,000 casualties, including 3598 killed.

In Dunblane the wives of Privates Alex Wilson and Peter Fotheringham, Black Watch, learned their husbands had been wounded in the latest push. Pte Wilson was formerly a painter and Pte Fotheringham worked as a bread vanman. Both joined up in summer of 1916 and had been at the front for several months.

Other Dunblane soldiers wounded in the fighting were Pte Archibald Cunningham, son of John Cunningham, painter, and Pte William McLellan, Black Watch, son of Alexander McLellan, Kirk Street. Their injuries were not thought to be serious.

Pte Cunningham was serving with Scottish Horse when the war broke out and spent several months in the Dardanelles before his time in the Army expired and he re-enlisted in 1916. Pte McLellan had been at the front for two years.

In Strathblane there was news of the death of a young soldier well known to villagers. Pte John Young Colquhoun, A&SH, who fell on April 7, was the 19-yearold son of Archibald Colquhoun, 27 Lyndhurst Gardens, Glasgow. Mr Colquhoun had a house in the village for several years and he and his family were regular visitors during the summer months.

Mrs Ferguson, of Strathblane, learned her husband L/ Cpl WA Ferguson, Cameron Highlanders, had been wounded in the right arm and was in hospital.

In Aberfoyle information was received that Pte Malcolm Menzies, Highland Light Infantry, son of Archibald Menzies from the village, had been wounded in action.

Among those killed in the fighting on April 9, the first day of the Battle of Arras, was well known local footballer Pte Graham Marshall, A&SH. He was the second son of John Marshall, Glasgow, formerly Stirling, and grandson of Mrs Bremner, Baker Street, Stirling.

Pte Marshall worked as a miner in the Stirling area before joining up. He played in goal for St Ninians Thistle on several occasions and also turned out for a number of the area’s juvenile clubs.

Pte McLellan had been at the front for two years