April 2, 1918

[gordontaos]

Today marks the 92nd anniversary of the death of Private Thomas Spence of the 1/7 Black Watch. He died of wounds, as a POW, after suffering through one of the most horrendous bombardments in history.
He died with his kilt on, and I wore mine today while out and about so that I could briefly relate the story of his passing to anyone who asked why I was wearing a kilt.
He had no wife or girlfriend. While I was stationed in Germany in 1973 I became the first family member to ever visit his grave in Flesquieres, France. His brother, my grandfather, is now long gone and I am the only one to carry on Tom's memory. He died for all of us, and he, like far too many others, should not be forgotten.
I have raised 3 glasses in his memory tonight. Will you raise another with me?
PS If anyone has easy access to the Black Watch archives, I could use a little bit of assistance in rounding out his military record.

[Lachlan09]

Today marks the 92nd anniversary of the death of Private Thomas Spence of the 1/7 Black Watch. He died of wounds, as a POW, after suffering through one of the most horrendous bombardments in history.

[Downunder Kilt]

Lest we Forget

[BoldHighlander]

I have raised 3 glasses in his memory tonight. Will you raise another with me?

I'll raise one in honour of his memory.

[Lachlan09]

April 2, 1918 ? It sounds to me like he was wounded and captured during the German “Operation Michael” offensive, which started on 21st March 1918. Pte Spence would have been in 153 Bde, 51st Highland Division.

According to sources, ”The Division remained in the Cambrai until 21 March 1918, when the enemy launched a huge and overwhelming attack on the fronts of Fifth and Third Armies, the Division being in the latter near Flesquieres. The defensive front around Flesquieres formed a salient and was strongly held by the British. The enemy decided not to attack it frontally, but instead drenched it with gas while attacking on either side. The pressure grew during the day, and from early evening the Division began a fighting withdrawal that took it over the next few days back several miles, through Beaumetz, towards Bapaume. In fighting a number of critical rearguard actions, Divisional losses built up to a total of over 4,900 men.”

I too would welcome archive records on the service of my Gt Uncle, 9365 L/Cpl David Elder Robertson, 8th Batt Black Watch, 9th Scottish Division, who was killed on 3 May 1917, during the 3rd Battle of the Scarpe (Battle of Arras), in a pre-dawn attack on positions near Roeux.

[gordontaos]

Lachlan, you sure do know your stuff!
Tom was originally buried at Abancourt Communal Cemetary German Extension, just outside of Cambrais, and behind the German lines. His grave was ironically later moved to Flesquieres. I say ironically, because he had participated in the first tank battle in history there, and had passed within less than a mile of where his grave is now located. I somehow imagine him taking a break and gazing off into the distance, not knowing that he was looking at his future grave.

[Jock Scot]

"We will remember them."

[Lachlan09]

My glass is raised to Pte Spence.

[NewGuise]

It's not one of the cemeteries I've visited (although my partner has), but one can get a good view of it at http://www.todayisfree.com/360-277-F...itish-Cemetery. Thomas Spence is buried in IV.E.2, the second grave to the right in the first row facing the War Stone.

[gordontaos]

That link is truly amazing!!
Thank you so much. I have forwarded it to the rest of my family.
The cemetery itself looks the same as the day when I visited it 43 years ago.
Technology certainly is making the world much smaller.