William Donaldson was born on 26th January 1894. In 1891, the Donaldson family were living at Ganco Street Lower, Perth. In 1901, they were living at Townhead, Ashcliffe House, Dunning, Perthshire. Father, David Gilbert (Medical Practitioner), b. 1862, Methven; Mother, Margaret (Hoggs) b.1864, Dunning; Son, Gilbert b.1891, Dunning; Son, Alexander, b.1892, Dunning; Son, William, b.1894, Dunning; Daughter, Margaret, b.1896, Dunning; Daughter, Mary, b.1898, Dunning; and Daughter Christina, b.1900, Dunning. In 1917 the 12th Battalion, Royal Scots, was part of the 27th Brigade. 9th (Scottish) Division and were involved in the Battle of Arras and the action that followed. Extract from the History of the Ninth Scottish Division, by John Ewing. “On 5th June a minor operation was carried out by the 27th Brigade and the Thirty Fourth Division on its left. The object was to advance in its line up the western slopes of Greenland Hill...It was in trenches north and south of the Arras-Douai Railway, which divided its front into two equal parts. Cupid Trench was to be taken north of the Railway and south of it the line of the sunken road (leading to Roeux)... "The battalions detailed for the operation were the 11th and 12th Royal Scots. The assembly was very difficult; entry into the front system could be effected only by night, on account of the almost continuous artillery-fire by day. To deceive the enemy, they waited for twenty seconds before going over the parapet. This raid ruse was eminently successful, since the enemy, seeing no infantry moved with the barrage, took it to be a ’Chinese Attack’ the men accordingly crossed ‘No Man’s Land’ without a casualty, though subsequently there was brisk fighting, during which some gaps in our ranks were made by the more spirited of the defenders. “The action of the 5th June was extremely satisfactory, for while our losses were slight, those of the enemy were exceptionally heavy for the forces engaged.” Although not mentioned by name, William Donaldson would have been one of the casualties of this action. He was 23 years of age. Perthshire Advertiser, 16th June 1917 “DEATHS “DONALDSON - Killed in action, on 5th June, Second Lieut. William Donaldson, Royal Scots, aged 23 years, third and youngest son of Dr Donaldson, Ashcliffe, Dunning.” William Donaldson is also commemorated on the Dunning Parish War Memorial