THE LAST 100 DAYS The period from August to November 1918 came to be known as "The Last 100 Days" or the "Advance to Victory" and was the final "push" which led to the Armistice on the 11th November. It did, however, come at a terrible cost, and Perth Academy felt their loss keenly. Over a period of a little over three months the school lost 48 former pupils, almost 29% of the total of 168 for the whole war. One of the 48 was William Condie, a young man of only 18 years of age, who had been at the front for less than 5 weeks and who lost his life barely a month from the Armistice. William has no known grave, and is remembered by name on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing along with almost 34, 000 other casualties. In 1901, the Condie family were living at 5, Inchaffray Street, Perth. Father, John Condie (Clerk), b. 1874, Auchtergaven, Perthshire; Mother, Mary, b. 1875, Dundee, Forfarshire; and Son, William, b. 1900, Perth. SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER 1918 “THE ADVANCE TO VICTORY.” Between July and October 1918 the 8th Battalion of the Black Watch spent time in the following areas: In July they were in camp in Honenghem, where they spent time reorganizing and refitting until the end of the month. In August they moved to Thieushouk in relief of the 9th Scottish Rifles. On 22nd August they were relieved by the 7th Seaforths and moved back to support positions in Roukloshille before moving to Hondegehm Camp. They then entrained for Racquienhem area, detraining at Renescure and marching to billets at Orchard Camp, where their time was spent in training and reorganizing. In September the Battalion moved into position in preparation for an attack on Passchendale Ridge. By 29th September Scip Wood, near the village of Moorslede had been penetrated. However, the Battalion had to withdraw due to fierce enemy resistance and orders were received for the advance to continue the next day. Extract from Wauchope’s History of the Black Watch in the Great War “On the next day (2nd October) considerable movement was observed in the enemy’s lines and about 5 p.m. the German’s put down a fairly heavy artillery barrage and made a feeble attack, which was easily repelled on the front held by the Battalion. On the right and left, however, the enemy attacked in some force, but were driven back; a few succeeded in establishing themselves on the right, but were soon ejected.” While there is no definitive record of how and when William Condie met his death, it is likely to have been at some stage of this action. He was 18 years old. Perthshire Advertiser, 16th October 1918 “OUR OWN MEN - PERTH CITY” “Private W. Condie, son of Mr John Condie, Strathardle, Feus Road, Perth, has been killed in action. Not nineteen years of age, he had not been more than five weeks in France. Private Condie was a clerk in business life, and before joining for active service was a member of Perth V.A.D.” William Condie is also commemorated on the former Perth Middle Church War Memorial; the Roll of Honour of John Dewar and Son, Perth; the Tulloch Institute War Memorial, Perth; and the Jeanfield District War Memorial, Perth.