Battle of Loos

battle of loos

KILT AND JACKET COMPLETELY RIDDLED

On 15th (Scottish) Division’s right, 44th Brigade, led by 8th

Seaforth Highlanders and 9th Black Watch, supported by 7th

Cameron Highlanders with 10th Gordon Highlanders in reserve,

advanced on the German front-line trenches.

Recounting the opening moments of the attack, an officer

serving with 8th Seaforths wrote,

‘What a hail of shell and bullets! The Germans had the

range to a nicety; and burst high explosive and sprayed

shrapnel over us in a deluge. Of course they made hits;

they could not help making hits among us; but nothing

could stop the elan of that charge for which the officers

and men of the 8th Seaforth Highlanders had made up their

minds... Down went one officer, another, and yet another,

and still the remainder directed and cheered the men on.

In perfect order, their lines extended and unbroken, our

men reached the German wire... No troops could face that

awful charge’.

Sergeant Nisbet, 8th Seaforths, wrote to his mother in

Carronshore, informing her he was wounded and in hospital at

Liverpool.

‘If there is anything to be done, simply ask the Highland

Brigade to do it, and the thing is all right; I am

speaking about the whole Highland Brigade of course’.

Nisbet gave clear indication of the severity of the fighting.

‘There are very few of our battalion left... My kilt and

jacket were completely riddled with shrapnel and shot,

and I will need a new suit to come home in’.

28 The Newcastle Daily Journal and Courant, Saturday, 23 October 1915, 3.

29 The Walsall Advertiser, Saturday, 16 October, 1915, 7.

30 Dumfries and Galloway Saturday Standard, Saturday, 6 November 1915, 8.

31 The Falkirk Herald and Scottish Midlands Journal, Saturday, 16 October 1915, 5.

32 The Falkirk Herald and Midlands Journal, Saturday, 9 October 1915, 6.