How one village felt the impact

Speculation about the success of the latest big push was rife across rural Stirlingshire.

And talk of the offensive was particularly animated in Thornhill, according to the Observer’s correspondent there.

Although daily papers of the time heralded the operation’s early successes, it fell to the correspondent to record the high number of casualties before and after the start of the Battle of Arras.

James McCowan, second son of Mr McCowan, Bridge of Frew Farm, lost the top part of the first and second fingers of one hand in a shell injury. His younger brother Duncan was also serving in France at the time.

James Rennie, Black Watch, had been in France for some time when he received a bullet wound in the shoulder. He was being treated in City of London Hospital.

A more serious injury was suffered by Tom McDonald, Main Street, Thornhill, who worked with Mr Gray , flesher, before joining the Black Watch.

He went to France in December and had been wounded up the right side of his body “from foot to chest”. He was being treated in Hammersmith Hospital, London.

“Thornhill people will be pleased to know that it happened on a bombing expedition, the company being entirely made up of volunteers as it is regarded as particularly risky,”added the correspondent.

“We learn he has so far recovered as to be able to give, in letters, his own account of the night’s work.”