Places > Book of remembrance for Tweeddale > Landward Parishes

County of Peebles Book of Remembrance.
89
those who were his seniors; and the announce-
ment of his death on the field of battle evoked
yreat regret and deep sympathy for his parents,
of whom he was their only child.
Killed in action on the 25th May, 1917, Pri-
vate John Law Wilson, Eoyal Scots, aged 20,
only ison of Benjamin and Mrs Wilson, Kingle-
doors, Broughton.
This gallant young lad joined the army at the
beginning of the war, on the 10th December,
1914, and would net have been eighteen years
of age until the 28th of January, 1915. He
went into the offensive on Easter morning,
the 9th of April, 1917, and engaged in two very
severe battles at that time. The third battle
that he fought in was less severe, as his very
last letter stated. It was dated the 23rd May
(two days before he fell), and in it he
said — "Still in the trenches, but having an easy
time." On coining out of his second battle,
there were left but three only out of the draft he
went out with. Referring to his last engage-
ment, his of&cer eaid that John was killed in-
stantaneously by a shell while gallantly fighting
on the Scarpe, near to Arras, and that his loss
was keenly felt by all his comrades. He was a
machine-gunner in the Second Ninth Eoyal
Scots. " My boy was a good boy, loved and
adored by all who knew him, and his death was
a great blow to his parents, as he was our only
boy." He did not fight long, only from the 9th
of April, 1917, until the 25th of May.
So be my passing.
My task accomplished and the long day done.
My wages taken, and in my heart
Some late lark singing.
Let me be gathered to the quiet West,
The sundown splendid and serene,
Death.
PRIVATE ROBERT BURNS LAURIE
(Stobo and Australia)
35th Battalion (9th Brigade), Australian
Imperial Force.
• 1917. June 12.
He was the great-grandson of a Stobo man,
the late Mr Joseph Laurie, who was born
at Stobo Quarry, and whose son became the
pioneer of the town of Laurieton, N.S.W.
Robert Burns Laurie was the third to fall
of the patriotic Stobo-Australian clan. Mr
J. B. Itaurie, of Laurieton, North Coast, re-
ceived word from the military authorities
that his son, Priviate Robert Burns Lawrie,
died at No. 2 Clearing Station (Australian)
from gunshot wounds in the head on Tues-
day, 12tih June, 1917.
He was in his 20th year, and was born in
Laurieton, and lived there all his life. He
was a grandson of the pioneer of the town,
Mr Joseph Laurie, who was the first man to
introduce New South Wales hard woods in-
to overseas markets in 1888.
Before enlisting he was a student at the
Teachers' College. He ©nlisted on Empire
Day, 1916, and had been three months in
France when he met his death. He spent
part of his furlough in Peebles before going
to the front. Mortally wounded at Messines,
aged 20 years and 9 months A tree in mem-
ory of him has been planted in Main Street,
Laurieton.
Private Robert Burns Laurie was a great
grandson of Joseph Lawrie, who left Peebles-
sihire with his wife and six sons for Aust-
ralia in the year 1838; his daughter, Mrs
J. Higgins, having preceded them a year
previously. Joseph Laurie, the late soldier's
grandfather, after a fairly successful career,
chiefly in timber pursuits in New South
Wales, paid a visit to Peebles in 1886, and
again in 1888. The latter visit was for the
purpose of introducing Australian hard woods
into the British and Continental markets,
thus becoming the pioneer of the large and
lucrative trade in tlhat commodity now being
carried on with those countries.
Private Laurie was a son of Joseph Laurie,
who now resides at Laurieton, the eawmill-
ing town named after his father, and was
born at that place.
Shortly after hostilities coimmenoed, he
expressed a desire to go to the front, but
failed to gain his father's consent on ac-
count of his youth. He afterwards passed
examinations admitting him into the Public
Instruction Depot as a school teacher. After
a period of training in the Teachers' Col-
lege, he again heard the call of duty, and
once more approached his father, and suc-
ceeded on that occasion in gaining consent.
He sailed for the front early in October,
1916, but did not arrive in England until
January, the voyage occupying thirteen
weeks, owing to the danger from submar-
ines. On arrival in England, he obtained
four days' leave, two of which were spent in
Peebles, with the family of Mr J. S. Thorn-