Private George Buchanan Arnott

Private George Buchanan Arnott

9th (Service) Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Service No: S/4298

5747

3

4

0

108

Click here for a frameable A4 print

Personal details

Family Information

Son of John Arnott and Sarah Arnott of "Braefoot", Armadale Rd, Whitburn, West Lothian, Eldest of 3 boys. George's younger brother James worked as a Booking Clerk at the Airdrie North British Station. From the 1901 Census - Address - 9 Ronald St, Coatbridge - Sarah Arnott 32, George Arnott 7, Robert Arnott 5, James Arnott 4. George lived with the Walker family. He enlisted and worked with Private David Walker (4299) and Private James (Jimmy) Walker (4300) who both fell on the opening day of the Battle of Loos. George was wounded and gassed on this day and returned to the trenches about a fortnight after leaving Hospital. There is 1 digit between the 3 friends Service Numbers. George's younger brother Private Robert Arnott (201907) of the 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers was Killed in Action on the 16/08/1917 at the Battle of Langemarck (part of the Battles of Ypres). He is NOT listed on the Memorial. George's and Robert's Pension were awarded to their grandmother Jessie of Glenview Cottage, Avondale and their father John.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 77 Burnbank St, Coatbridge with Mr James and Mrs Jessie Walker.

Died

Died of Wounds on the 28/06/1916 received on the 27/06/1916 near the village of Hulloch

Enlisted

Baird Hall, Coatbridge 03/09/1914

Employed

Locomotive Driver and Fireman at Kipps Works.

Age

23 / DOB - 22/04/1893

Buried / Remembered

Vermelles British Cemetery (IV. A. 9), Pas de Calais, France.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

Vermelles was in German hands from the middle of October 1914 to the beginning of December 1914, when it was recaptured by the French. The cemetery was begun in August 1915 (though a few graves are slightly earlier), and during the Battle of Loos, when the Chateau was used as a dressing station, Plot I was completed. It was laid out and fenced by the Pioneers of the 1st Gloucesters, and known for a long time as "Gloucester Graveyard". The remaining Plots were made by the Divisions (from the Dismounted Cavalry Division onwards) holding the line 1.6 kilometres East of the cemetery until April 1917, and they incorporated a few isolated French graves of October 1914. From April 1917, to the Armistice, the cemetery was closed; but after the Armistice some graves were re-grouped and others were brought in (to Plots II, IV and VI) from the battlefields to the East. There are now over 2134 First World War casualties commemorated in this cemetery. Of these, 198 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to six soldiers from the United Kingdom, known to be buried among them. This cemetery also contains the graves of 11 casualties of other nationalities.

Additional Information

The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 08/07/1915 and were part of the 44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. George arrived 6 days later. On the 27th June 1916 organised raids on portions of the enemy lines now began to take the place of the smaller patrol and bombing attacks which had been in vogue in the past. The first of these was carried out by a Company of the 9th Black Watch under Captain Storey Wilson against the enemy trenches east of the Quarries near the village of Hulloch and Loos. Unfortunately, most of the raiders lost direction, one Officer and two men only being able to enter the enemy trenches. The party suffered 15 casualties, all wounded and brought in. George was 1 of these casualties and he died the following day. On that following day the 11th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 45th Brigade, carried out a similar operation under cover of a gas and smoke attack. This party succeeded in entering the German trenches and disposed of a number of the enemy. Although no prisoners were taken, this particular raid was an exceedingly good piece of work. It was carried out against one of the worst parts of the Hohenzollern Redoubt and reflected great credit on Captain P.S. Wilson, who was largely instrumental in drawing up the scheme and making the necessary arrangements. George was previously wounded and gassed at Loos in 1915. Battle of Loos 25/09/1915 - 08/10/1915 : Gas release to be made along Divisional Front from 5.50am with Zero hour set for 6.30am. In the first instance, Brigade to secure the German front-line area known as, ‘The Jews Nose’, and then press on to secure the enemy’s second line east of Loos village. Once these objectives had been captured, surviving troops were to press on and secure Hill 70. The Brigade was to attack with the 9th Black Watch right and 8th Seaforth Highlanders left, both supported by 7th Cameron Highlanders. 10th Gordon Highlanders were to be held in reserve. 24/09/1915 Brigade to assembly trenches. "A" Company vanguard. 25/09/1915 at 5.50am Gas release commenced followed by smoke release. Germany artillery responded immediately fearful of a British attack. At that time the wind changed, and the lethal gas blew back on the troops mustering to go ‘over the top’ at 6.30am, causing significant casualties and confusion. At the appointed time, the Battalion went into the attack and carried its initial objectives under heavy fire, suffering further significant casualties. By 8.30am, troops had begun to assault Hill 70, and later in the day attempts were made to press on to Cite St. Auguste and Dinamentiere. 26/09/1915 Battalion relieved at 1am, and fell back on Mazingarbe, where the roll was called. Twenty-two officers and six hundred and eighty other ranks failed to answer, having been either killed, wounded or taken prisoner. George and his brother Robert are both remembered on the Whitburn Civic Memorial (as Arnot) and George is remembered on the East Utd Free Church Roll of Honour, on the Maxwell Parish Church and the Kipps Works Rolls of Honour (along with David and James Walker - see photos). See Directory for David and James Walker's pages who also fell and who enlisted and worked with George. See photos for George's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 3, information on the National Probate Index in 1917, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, Vermelles British Cemetery, the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Cap Badge, George and his brother Robert's Pension Records x 4, George's Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his photo and information on his death from the West Lothian Courier Newspaper on the 21/07/1916. See photos for brother Robert Arnott's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls and his Grave at Artillery Wood Cemetery, Boezinge, Belgium. SEE PHOTOS x 16 FOR HIS BATTALION (1st KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS) WAR DIARY AUGUST 1917. Robert's Grave Inscription reads "BELIEVED TO BE BURIED IN THIS CEMETERY" and "THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT". George's Grave Inscription reads "SO DEARLY LOVED SO SADLY MISSED". Finally, see photos for another one of George's grave, his grave with Poppy Cross placed by myself in July 2023 x 3, how the Poppy Cross looked before I went to France and PHOTOS x 8 FOR HIS BATTALION WAR DIARY JUNE 1916. George was wounded and gassed at the Battle of Loos in 1915. SEE PHOTOS x 13 FOR THE 15th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION ON THE 25/09/1915, SEE PHOTOS FOR 33 PAGES FROM THE MOST UNFAVOURABLE GROUND BOOK REGARDING THE BATTALION and DIVISION 25/09/1915 (fantastic book on the Battle of Loos kindly signed by the author Niall Cherry) and the 15th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 13 (the Division he was with when he died).

Photos

George Buchanan Arnott newspaper clipping

George Buchanan Arnott remembered at home

War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

Creative Commons License

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