Walter Melrose                      Aged 36

Regimental No. 26951           Private          2nd Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers

                                                                        13 Brigade, 5 Division

Killed in Action                                            4 October 1917, Battle of Broodseinde

Commemorated                                           Tyne Cot Memorial, Ypres

 

Personal Background

Walter was the son of James Melrose and Marion, nee Hume, and born at Loanhead farm, (New Smailholm) in the Borders, NOT Loanhead, Midlothian as was first thought.  He had 5 siblings, born in Selkirk, Galashiels, Traquair, and Bowden, so his father, like many agricultural workers, moved quite frequently from farm to farm.  In 1891 the family were at Faughhill, Bowden, and in 1901 at Thornielaw near St. Boswells. Walter worked as a ploughman at that time but in the 1911 Census the only person of the right name and age who was born locally was a yard pointsman at Riccarton Junction, one of the busiest rail sites in the Borders, so he may have changed occupation.   

 

Walter's father died in 1917 at Laretburn, just 6 months before Walter was killed, and the family must have lived on this farm for some years, as his sister, Maggie married from there in October 1918.  Her husband was Thomas Scott, master baker, of Greenfield House, and they later lived at Lindenlea, St. Boswells.  This Thomas Scott was the brother of David Wright Scott, who is also commemorated on the memorial, so both lost a brother within a matter of weeks of one another. 

 

Military Background

Walter enlisted into the KOSB at Berwick Barracks and saw considerable action in France and Flanders.  On 4 October an attack was planned for 06.00, and the objectives of his Battalion were Polderhoek, Chateau, Wood and Spur.  The weather had broken the previous day and the rain soaked the troops, swelled the beeks (burns) and filled shell holes.  At zero hour it was dark and tempestuous, with a heavy ground mist impeding progress.

 

The 13th Infantry brigade were not to advance from the line held the previous day, but from an advanced position in No Man's Land, taped out at right angles to the line of advance, so that each man could march forward to his objective.  The Battalion were forward on their assembly positions by  05.00.  At 04.45 the enemy laid down a very heavy barrage, from the British front line right back to beyond the support trenches.  This was afterwards discovered to be in preparation for their own attack.

 

The Battalion suffered very heavily through this fire, but assembled on their allotted positions under very trying conditions, which had considerably disorganised the companies.  "C" and "D" companies formed the attacking line, "B" company was in support and "A" in reserve.  Punctually at 06.00 the British Artillery opened with a marvellous barrage and the two front companies went over the top.  Both had to pass over a swamp on their way, which hindered them considerably, causing them to lose the barrage and direction, however they got through and carried on.  Three of the four "D" company's officers were hit before going very far, as were 2 of "C" company.  The officer in charge of the Moppers-up was also hit and the "B" company officer whose platoon had been detached to take the Chateau was killed.  Obscurity settled on the battlefield.  "C" and "D" companies vanished and no communication was ever received.

 

It is probable that having lost touch with the barrage, the two leading companies were counter-attacked and overwhelmed by the German troops spared the barrage.  At 06.30 it was reported that men in considerable numbers were retiring on the left and right, with the Germans coming over the ridge to the south of the Chateau Wood.  The reserve company was ordered to advance and secure this ridge.  At the same time, the support company brought enfilade fire to bear and greatly assisted the successful carrying out of this operation.

 

The non-receipt of information from the front companies in the afternoon convinced the Commanding Officer to hang on to the ground gained and, owing to heavy casualties, not to advance further.  The enemy counter-attacked several times: in each case it was discovered and the SOS for artillery support sent up and answered.  On the night of 5/6 October the Battalion was relieved by the 1st Norfolks, and what was left of the Battalion, some 90 men, "crawled" into Bedford House 4 miles behind the lines.  The 2nd KOSB had lost 11 officers and 438 other ranks over the space of these two days, one of whom was Walter Melrose.