Places > Book of remembrance for Tweeddale > Landward Parishes

County of Peebles Book of Remembrance.
47
PRIVATE WILLIAM BARR
(Skieling and West Linton)
AltOTLL & SUIHEELAND HiGHLANDEES.
1916. JuLT 1546 (Satubdat oe Sunday).
News came on the 22nd July, 1916, that one
of Skirling 's lads, William Barr by name, had
made the supreme sacrifice. He was killed
by shell fire in France doing his bit, fighting
for the cause of righteousness. Private Barr,
who was working in Lanarkshire previous to
enlisting, joined the Argyll & Sutherland
Highlanders shortly before the outbreak of
war. His parents are comforted by the know-
ledge that he had faithfully done his duty
from the day he joined. He was buried where
he fell, in the little graveyard of a simple
mining village. " Greater love hath no man
than this, that a man lay down his life for
his friends," were the words read at his
burial service.
" It was my sad duty yesterday to officiate
at the burial of your son. Private William
Barr. He had been killed by the explosion
of a shell between Saturday night and Sun-
day morning. He was at work in the front
line. Things had been getting pretty hot,
and the sergeant had just suggested that
they had better get to their dugout when
the shell arrived and killed three outright,
wounding other two, of whom one has since
died. I cannot tell you with what feelings I
stood by the open graves. It is all too
awful; the sacrifice seems so great. But
there remains to us the joy of their service,
and the privilege of their death. When
you come to think of it it is a great privi-
lege and honour — "Greater love hath no man
than this " — they were the words of Christ.
I repeated them over your son's grave, and
~God has thought your boy worthy of some-
thing of the same sacrifice as Christ.
It is comforting also to know that he went
out in company with his friends. What a
joyous awakening it would be for all of
them. We prayed for you that when the
cloud descended, as we knew it must, that
He wordd be the Light in your darkness and
help you to understand what it all means.
We gave thanks that your boy had heard
and answered the Call of Duty in the hour
of the national danger, and prayed that it
would be counted unto him for righteous-
ness. He lies in a beautifully simple ceme-
tery, not far from where he fell. Some day
I shall be able to tell you where exactly it
is. But we have left him in God's care, in
Whose keeping he is safe."
" I have the honour of commanding the
company to which your brave boy belonged,
and please accept my deepest sympathy in
your great loss. Your son, from the day he
joined, did his duty like a man, and now he
has made the great sacrifice in this terrible
war for Right against Might. In this the
hour of your extreme sorrow, I sincerely
trust that you may be comforted by the
knowledge that your son was ever a good
and brave soldier, and a good comrade, and
that he bravely met his death facing his
country's enemies. It was men of the type
of your son who have made and upheld the
splendid name and reputation of this regi-
ment and otlier Highland and Scottish regi-
ments, and so his name has now been added
to the Roll of Honour. Assuring you of
the deepest sympathy of all ranks of this
Battalion, — I remain yours very sincerely,
— Geoegb Gunn, Lieutenant-Colonel.
Humbly, Scotland, we offer what is of
little worth.
Just our bodies and souls and everything
else we have;
But thou with thy holy cause wilt hallow
our common earth,
Giving us strength in the battle— and
peace, if need, in the grave.
PRIVATE TOM WYPER
(Manor)
8th Seafoeth Highlanders.
1916. JxiLT 19 (Wednesday).
Tom Wyper was one of those brave country
lads who enlisted at the very beginning of
the war, in August, 1914. He joined the 8th
Seaforth Highlanders. He was aged twenty-
three. One letter only was received from
him. In a letter received from the chaplain
it was stated that he was killed instantane-
ously by the explosion of a shell.
" The battalion has suffered severe casual-
ties during the past week through more than
usual bombardment of the trenches, and
among several who fell was your son. His