Adam Weatherstone             Aged 20

Regimental No. S/11449        Private                D Company, 11th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

                                                                               45th Brigade

                                                                               15th (Scottish) Division

Died from wounds                                              21 September 1916

Buried                                                                   Dernancourt Communal Cemetery, France

 

Personal Background

Adam was the youngest son of George and Margaret Weatherstone (nee Dodds) of Wellrig Farm, St. Boswells.  He was one of 7 children and in 1911 he and his brothers George and John appear to have been living in a cottage adjacent to the main house - which had 9 people (including grandparents) living in 5 rooms and was obviously very cramped.  The three young men shared a 2 roomed house and were all working on their father's farm. 

 

It has proved difficult to find any military records relating to Adam's enlistment and his time in service, other than the fact that he enlisted at Berwick-upon-Tweed, so we do not yet know if he enlisted earlier, or after conscription came into effect in early 1916.  He is recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Index,  as is the fact that he died from wounds sustained in action,  and when his medals were issued they were sent to his father, George. 

 

Military Background

The 15th (Scottish) Division was to attack and capture Martinpuich on September 15, 1916.  The 45th Brigade was on the right, and the 46th on their left.  The 45th Brigade had the 11th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on their right, and the 13th Royal Scots on their left, and to the right of the Argylls was the 50th Division.  The attack was to be carried out in three bounds, the final objective being the southern portion of Martinpuich village and, if successful, attempt to gain more ground.

 

At  06.20 on 15 September the assault took place, the enemy being taken by surprise as the usual preliminary artillery bombardment had been dispensed with and they relied solely on the barrage.  Initially there was not much opposition and many prisoners were taken.

 

At 06.45, having taken Bottom Trench East, the Cutting, Tangle South and Tangle Trenches, the 11th Argylls and 13th Royal Scots advanced towards their final objective.  Casualties had been exceedingly few thus far, but from now became more severe, many being caused by troops moving into the British artillery barrage, which moved at 50 yards a minute.  Shortly after 07.00 the final objective was reached, all positions were made good, stores were brought up and the work of consolidation began. Very few casualties had resulted from the retaliatory action brought to bear by the enemy, but now both artillery and machine gun fire became more intense, with the result that losses became numerous. 

 

At noon both Brigades, 45th and 46th, were ordered to push forward, take the rest of the village and establish a line of posts north of it.  This further attack started at 15.00 and an hour later the whole of Martinpuich had been captured.  Private Weatherstone was wounded during this day's actions and was taken to the Regimental Aid Post, from which he was transferred to No. 45 Casualty Clearing Station at Dernancourt, where he sadly died on 21 September.