On the 20th May 1940 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish (Black Watch) engaged with troops of the German 8th Panzer Division. The action took place between the villages of Mercatel and Ficfieux, 7km (4miles) south of Arras.
L/Cpl Piper Freddie Laidler playing pipes which had piped the Tyneside Scottish into Battle at La Boisselle on the first day of the Somme rallied the troops. The lightly armed Tyneside Scots fought heroically and held the German advance, gaining vital hours for BEF retreating to Dunkirk. They sustained heavy casualties.
Overlooking the battlefield the Bucquoy Road Cemetery contains the graves of 64 Tyneside Scots who lost their lives during the action.
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| Bucquoy Road Cemetery Looking towards Fichieux |
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| Bucquoy Road Cemetery Tyneside Scottish graves |
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| Bucquoy Road Cemetery Tyneside Scottish graves |
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| Bucquoy Road Cemetery |
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| Bucquoy Road Cemetery L/Cpl Frederick Laidler 1st Battalion Tyneside Scottish |
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| Bucquoy Road Cemetery L/Cpl Laiders grave |
Freddie Laidler was the uncle of Dire Straits guitarist Mark Knopfler who wrote a song to remember his uncle.
PIPER TO THE END
When I leave this world behind me
to another I will go
And if there are no pipes in heaven
I'll be going down below
If friends in time be severed
someday we will meet again
I'll return to leave you never
be a piper to the end
to another I will go
And if there are no pipes in heaven
I'll be going down below
If friends in time be severed
someday we will meet again
I'll return to leave you never
be a piper to the end
This has been a day to die for
Now the day is almost done
Up above, a quiet seabird
turns to face the setting sun
Now the evening dove is calling
and all the hills are burning red
And before the night comes falling
clouds are lined with golden thread
Now the day is almost done
Up above, a quiet seabird
turns to face the setting sun
Now the evening dove is calling
and all the hills are burning red
And before the night comes falling
clouds are lined with golden thread
We watched the fires together
shared our quarters for a while
walked the dusty roads together
came so many miles
shared our quarters for a while
walked the dusty roads together
came so many miles
This has been a day to die on
Now the day is almost done
Here the pipes will lay beside me
silent with the battle drum
If friends in time be severed
someday we will meet again
I'll return to leave you never
be a piper to the end
Now the day is almost done
Here the pipes will lay beside me
silent with the battle drum
If friends in time be severed
someday we will meet again
I'll return to leave you never
be a piper to the end