Second Lieutenant Alistair Hunter MacFarlane
From the memoirs of Sgt (later Lt Col) RWF Johnstone:
“Very soon after dawn broke,all the soldier’s in each fire bay “stood to”,i.e with rifle in hand and bayonet fixed,standing in the trench ready to jump up to the fire step if the sentry who was watching gave any alarm.About half an hour later, Mr MacFarlane,who had joined us for the stand-to,took Tam Yates and me along the platoon’s front to see what work was required in each section’s fire bay.We halted for a moment beside a little stream,which flowed through (Sanctuary Wood) across our front.As we stopped,the officer was hit in the head and fell dead to the ground at our feet.It was a great shock to see sudden death at first hand and so very early in my war service.The reality of war had become very apparent.We laid the body on the side of the trench,covering the face and hands with sandbags,and proceeded on our way.Tam now as Platoon Commander and I as his Platoon Sergeant. That night we buried our officer in a clearing near Battalion HQ. He was aged just 19 -the son of Lord Ormidale, a Judge of the Scottish Court of Session”.
Alistair MacFarlane’s grave was lost and he is listed on Panel 11 of the Menin Gate Memorial.
Menin Gate Memorial.May 2009
Private Percy Victor New
By spring 1915 the 12th Lancers were in the Ypres Salient, positioned on the Frezenberg Ridge to meet a heavy German assault. They were used as infantry and suffered from heavy shelling and sniping.Percy New was in the front line when he was killed by shellfire on 18 May 1915.
The regimental diary recorded “The usual morning salute of shrapnel was unfortunately rather effective.Otherwise a quiet day.All night work at the trenches.Casualties:killed two,wounded six.”
He is listed on Panel 5 of the Menin Gate Memorial.
My Ypres Salient Homage 
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