Today at 11.00 hours, the burial of six Scottish soldiers took place at Commonwealth War Graves Commission Point-Du-Jour Military Cemetery, France. Two of the soldiers were identified by DNA testing as Private George Fleming Brock and Private Percy Todd, both of 11th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
George Fleming Brock grew up at the Bandeath Colliery in Fallin, Scotland. His father and several of his brothers worked at the colliery, whilst George recieved his early education at Fallin Public School. He went on to win the Dux Medal for exceptional academic achievement. When the war broke out, he was serving an architectural apprenticeship with the Stirling firm of Messrs Bruce & Livingstone.
George enlisted on 17 June 1916, the day before his 18th birthday. In September 1917, he joined the 11th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in France. Just a month later, Pte Brock suffered from a serious gunshot wound and was sent to hospital. He rejoined the battalion in January 1918. On 28 March 1918, Pte Brock’s battalion were holding positions in the area of Tilloy-les-Mofflaines when the sector came under intense enemy bombardment. It was on this day that Pte Brock lost his life, aged just nineteen.
Courtesy of MOD War Detective’s FB Group
