KINGSLAND Primary School pupils have taken a step back in time to learn about a former teacher who died 100 years ago at the Somme.

The P6 pupils heard on Friday, September 16, about second Lt Charles Murray who served with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers, but had taught at Kingsland School for two years prior to enlisting. 

He died on the September 16, 1916 at the age of 33 and was buried in a soldiers’ grave in France. 

Staff and scholars of the time erected a brass plaque to his lasting memory in 1919 which hung in the ‘old’ school and now hangs in the library in Kingsland Primary School. 

Pupils learned about second Lt Murray from the Tweedvale Book Of Remembrance, and were told about the history of the battle by Scott Johnstone, a former soldier who helps with chanter tuition. 

The children were then asked to write a short piece on second Lt Murray, to explain what they had learned. 

The children were then spoken to and led in a short prayer of remembrance by Rev Malcolm Jefferson of the Leckie Church and Scott played the tune ‘Battle of the Somme’ on the pipes to conclude.