This Day in History: 1914-10-30
The 2nd Battalion, having relieved the Northumberland Fusiliers in trenches at La Bassée immediately to the north east of Neuve Chapelle the previous day, suffered its first casualties as a result of desultory bursts of fire from the Germans. Two men were killed and seven wounded. Major Neil Macpherson, a company commander, was the first British Officer to fall, shot through the head. He had served in the Regiment since 1891 and was the son of Lieutenant General Sir Herbert Macpherson VC KCB KCSI, a former Commandant. Click here for an extract of the Regimental history describing conditions in the trenches.