Peter Norris MacFarlane was born on 20th October 1892 and was one of nine children. He was educated at the Southern District School, being admitted on 26th April 1897, when living at John’s Place, 3 South Street, and Perth Academy. Peter was employed with the County Clerk, and enlisted at Leith with the Highland Light Infantry, 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glasgow), having previously served with the Highland Cyclist Battalion (No. 779).

Extract from a GlescaPals tribute to ‘Oor forces’ the official Glasgow social history website. “Now, on 18th November 1916, heavily reinforced, mostly from the Highland Cyclist Battalion, the Glaswegians peered through swirling snow at the heights of Beaumont-Hamel. At 6.10 am the barrage lifted and each man, laden down with half a hundredweight of arms and equipment, including six bombs, 220 rounds of ammunition and a trenching spade, heaved himself out of the jump-off trench and into No Man’s Land. On the left flank were 2nd Manchester’s, 2nd KOYLI’s and 11th Borderers. After initial successes they were heavily counter-attacked and beaten back."

"An enemy strong point of six to eight machine guns pinned down ’A’ and ’B’ companies, but ’C’ and ’D’ companies penetrated Munich Trench. Three platoons of ’D’ company pushed on to their second objective Frankfurt Trench, and the 50 surviving defenders made prisoners and sent back under escort. Another group of Germans reached Munich Trench in time for the men guarding the prisoners to be shot down and the prisoners freed as the mopping-up party, attacked from three sides by overwhelming numbers, was rushed and destroyed. The attempted capture of the German first and second trenches and the subsequent command of Beaumont-Hamel spur had failed after heavy casualties (the 16th alone had lost 13 officers and 390 other ranks.)” 

While there is no definitive record of how and when Corporal Peter MacFarlane lost his life, it is likely that he died during this action, aged 22. Peter MacFarlane is also commemorated on the St. Leonard’s Parish Church War Memorial, Perth.