Places > Book of remembrance for Tweeddale > Landward Parishes

County of Peebles Book of Remembrance.
101
" The party g«t to within 30 yards of
Pheasant Trench, under Lieut. Bartleman,
but, owing to maahine gun fire, rifle fire,
and bombs, the party was held up, and Sec-
ond-Lieutenant T. E. Bartleman, while en-
deavouring to work round the blockhouse,
was shot through the head. Tihe leading of
the raid left nothing to be desired. Lieut.
Bartleman shewed the utmost courage and
bravery. I wish specially to mention tihis
officer."— Lt.-Col. l/5th Seaforth Highlanders,
B.E.F., 8th September, 191".
Dear Mr and Mrs Bartleman, — I cannot
say how sorry I am to tell you that your
dear son Tom was killed instantaneously
on the morning of the 6th inst., during a
raid by my company on the enemy's
lines. Tom joined fhis company a week
after he joined the battalion, and I was
fortunate enough to get him. He was
adored by his platoon, and no wonder, as
he always set them a glorious example. I
have had to censor numerous letters from
men in his platoon, and each one of them
remarks on the fine officer they have lost.
I am left alone in my company, as I went
up the line with three others, and Tom was
killed and Macleod and Lundie wounded.
They and their men did splendid work,
however, and I hope to be able to get
the official report sent on to you. Of course,
you will understand this is private, and
must not be published, but I have got
permission from the Colonel to send you
one to keep. Tom was shot through the
head and was fortunate in getting the most
merciful death a soldier could wish to get.
He and his sergeant, Eoss, died about three
yards from one another, and almost up at
the enemy's trench."— J. Coebigall, Capt.
and Company Commander.
From "Gordon," D Coy., 3rd Gordon High-
landers, School, Aberdeen, September 14
1917: —
" I am utterly at a loss to know what to
write or how to write. I only want to say
that my heart is right sore for you, and
with you both. I shall come and see you if
I may, when I get my leave, and I hope
then to be able to say the things I want to,
and cannot now, and to hear all the sad
particulars.
May the loving, tender Jesus Christ be
your comfort and stay, dear kind friends
who have been so kind to me. How glad I
am that I have had the privilege of
Tommy's heart friendship— and how great
is our treasure becoming in Heaven !
When I go out myself, I shall come speci-
ally for your benediction, that I may fight
as nobly and as splendidly as they did, and
that I may go forth as from you.
Dear Tommy — amidst all the pain and
bitterness is there not a note of triumph ? —
he played the game. (You remember how
Billie and he would set that fine idea of
' playing the game ' before everything, on
the field at Myreside, and in the larger field
of life), and the dear kid did not turn back.
How well I remember him going low to save
his side from being scored against.
Thank God for the life of Tom— clean,
eager, loving and Christian. I shall pray
for you both for I love you, as I have loved,
and still love, the ' pals.'
Ever with my warmest love and earnest
prayers, yours affectionately,
Gordon."
From Captain Aymer D. Maxwell: —
" I feel like I have known Tommy since
his childhood, and I have always loved him
like a young brother. To my great delight
I met him out here at the end of June, and
even then I felt a lump in my throat at the
thought of his actually being out here and
engaged in this infernal business. I have
seea him often since, and on the 8th or 9th
of last month, he came across to shake my
hand as we iwer© marching past his camp on
the night we were relieved in the trenches.
I only heard yesterday that he had died
most gallantly on the German parapet, and
I went straight across to his colonel, whom
I have known for a long time, and he just
told me he had lost one of the finest officers
in his battalion. I went over again to see
his company commander, and he was most
awfully upset, but he said — 'Well, if he had
pulled through, he eould not have got less
than a Military Cross.'
I just give you that as a very slight con-
solation in your great sorrow, and as liber-
ally believe that you and Mr Bartleman
will understand that my grief and sym-
pathy cannot be expressed in a letter, I will
[^ OF SCOTLAND "^