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battle of arras
Private David Wyllie
Private David Wyllie was born in 1888, the eldest son
of Robert and Jane Wyllie of the Heugh Farm in North
Berwick. He had four younger brothers and a younger
sister. Due to exemptions, which often allowed men
working on farms to stay at home and assist with the
war effort here, David was the only brother to enlist.
He initially served with the 14
th
Battalion Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders before being moved to the 1/7
th
Battalion Black Watch. It was common for soldiers to
change regiments during the war.
After transferring to the Black Watch,
David was deployed to the Battle of Arras
where he was killed in action on 24
th
April, aged 29. His family were informed
via a telegram dated 30
th
April 1917.
His parents wrote to the Director of
Graves Registration & Enquiries requesting
a photo of his grave in Duisans Cemetery,
and just over three years later they went
with Thomas Cook Battlefield tours to see
it in person. David’s name is also on the
War Memorial in North Berwick.