IN the run up to the centenary commemorations of the end of the Great War we have published stories of the soldiers who are remembered on the War Memorial in Peebles.

Thomas Clark, who had a twin sister, Grace, was just 19 years of age when he enlisted two months after war was declared in 1914.

Having completed his apprenticeship, the elder son of late Robert Clark, tailor, and Mrs Clark, 66a Rosetta Road, Peebles, joined the Lanarkshire Yeomanry.

The historic regiment provided dismounted infantry during the Great War - and was involved in some of the bloodiest battles at Gallipoli and Gaza.

A year after enlisting, Thomas along with the rest of his regiment were despatched to the Dardanelles.

And despite enduring the horrors of the Gallipoli campaign for four months, which saw the Commonwealth forces suffer some of their biggest losses, he came out unscathed.

Thomas was transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps, in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, and later was attached to the Royal Scots Fusiliers.

It was on April 21, 1917 in Palestine when Thomas was struck by an explosive shell.

A former grave-digger from Innerleithen, John Turner, made the arrangements for the 22-year-old funeral.

In a letter to Thomas's mother back in Peebles fellow soldier A K Brown said: "We left camp just as it was getting dark and travelled up to the firing line.

"Our camels were taken away back again. We had to start digging ourselves in, and the shells were coming pretty thick when I saw Tom for the last time as we were putting out a wire.

"A friend from our group had a few words with him a few minutes before he was struck, and he was good spirits.

"He was in his dug-out with his two mess mates when a shell came right in beside them. I think they having breakfast at the time.

"Tom and one of his chums were killed instantaneously; the other chap was badly wounded."

Private Thomas Gibson Carmichael Clark was buried at the Sheik Abbas Ridge overlooking the town of Gaza.

His remains were later removed and he was laid to rest in the Military Cemetery at Gaza.

In the weeks following her son's death, his mother back in Peebles received many more letters from Thomas's colleagues.

The Brigade's chaplain wrote: "His officers and comrades were with me when I read the burial service over him, and I know you will get letters from his section officer, and also his friends.

"He has laid down his life, a true hero indeed, and his loss is greatly mourned amongst us."

A fellow Camel Corp private wrote: "I feel I have to write you these few words of sympathy on behalf of his comrades and myself.

"I never had a better pal nor one that I thought more of. He was with me in Gallipoli, having joined my section just before going there, and he had been with me ever since.

"He joined the Camel Corps with me.

"We shall all miss him very much, as he was a soldier and a man."