Six Scottish Soldiers Laid to Rest in France 108 Years After Their Sacrifice

Today, family members convened in France to witness the dignified burial of two Scottish soldiers from World War I, Private George Fleming Brock and Private Percy Todd, alongside four unidentified comrades, all laid to rest with full military honours.

Honouring Fallen Heroes

Soldiers from the 4th Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland carried the remains to their final resting place, marking a poignant moment 108 years after the soldiers were killed during the German Spring Offensive in 1918. Private Brock, hailing from Dunipace in West Falkirk, had been pursuing an architectural apprenticeship with the Stirling firm of Messrs Bruce & Livingston before enlisting in June 1916. Shortly after his arrival in France, he was severely wounded by gunfire and spent several months recovering in a hospital.

By January 1918, he had rejoined his battalion. However, two months later, the Germans launched a significant offensive along the Western Front. On 28 March 1918, while stationed in the area of Tilloy-les-Mofflaines, Pte Brock’s battalion faced an overwhelming bombardment, and it was on this fateful day that he lost his life at the tender age of 19.

A Shared Tragedy

Private Todd, from Radford in Nottinghamshire, was a draper’s manager working at Bryan’s Drapery in Isleworth, London, when he enlisted in November 1915. He was married to Alice, whom he had met eight years earlier at work. Todd also suffered serious injuries shortly after joining his battalion, enduring wounds on the first day of the Battle of Arras in 1917. After a lengthy recovery, he rejoined his unit in February 1918, but tragically lost his life less than two months later during the German Spring Offensive, on 5 April 1918.

In 2023, an archaeological survey conducted at a site in Tilloy-les-Mofflaines led to the discovery of the remains of these six soldiers. Accompanying the bodies were several artefacts, including regimental insignia from both the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and the Gordon Highlanders. Following extensive historical research and DNA testing, Pte Brock and Pte Todd were identified, while the remaining four soldiers remain unknown.

Closure for Families

The burial service was orchestrated by the Ministry of Defence’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC), also known as the ‘MOD War Detectives’, whose mission includes identifying the remains of British military personnel. Nicola Nash, a representative from the MOD War Detectives, expressed the significance of the day, stating, “Private Brock and Private Todd have both been buried today 108 years after they were killed. With half a million British servicemen still missing from World War I, every identification we make is a significant achievement. It has been a real privilege to provide closure to their families and to lay these heroes to rest with honour.”

Commitment to Remembrance

David Royle, the Recoveries and Ceremonies Manager at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), remarked on the importance of this occasion: “For 108 years, these six men lay where they fell on the battlefield. It is a privilege and a source of great pride for the CWGC to have recovered them and collaborated with the JCCC in restoring their identities. Although four of these soldiers remain unidentified, they are not forgotten. We will ensure their graves, along with those of Private Todd and Private Brock, are cared for in perpetuity, allowing future generations the opportunity to honour and remember their sacrifice.”