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Born-Edmonton

Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France

On 21st May, 1915, the 2nd Scottish Rifles battalion of 23 Brigade, 8th Division moved into the front line near Fleurbaix in France where they remained until relieved on 27th May. Thomas Heys was killed here on 25th May but the battalion diary provides no further information about his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.