There is reproduced today a photograph of the late Sergt. William Sutherland, Seaforths, the last surviving son of Mrs Sutherland, Slaggan, Strathpeffer, who, as already reported, was killed in action on September 20th in the great push.

Sergt. Wm. Sutherland is well remembered in the civil life of Dingwall. As a lad he entered the employment of Messrs D. Mackintosh & Coy., of Dingwall Ltd., and was 21 years in the service of the firm. An able and competent auctioneer, he was also a splendid organiser and outside agent. His duties brought him into contact with a very large number of people, and he was widely travelled in rural Ross, East and West, enjoying everywhere complete confidence and the heartiest esteem. He shared largely in the building up of the wide business of his firm and, incidentally, in the building up of Dingwall as a great centre of livestock sales. He had a hearty, happy smile for all, and a genial, pleasant manner, while his business probity remained unquestioned, and his word was his bond, secure and inviolate.

Deceased was 39 years of age, and joined up early in 1915 before the Derby scheme. A Territorial, he was widely knows as a Sergeant in Brahan Company. He was trained with the second line, and subsequently with the Reserve Battalion. He had been in France for sixteen months, and had seen much service in the time. An athlete of distinction at home, a capital heavy-weight, he was the organiser and trainer of battalion sports behind the lines. Many will remember him in the old pre-war days, particularly at Strathpeffer Highland Gathering, where he shared in the local events, and was a powerful leader in tug-of-war teams. Always a genuine sportsman, he trained for events, did his best to win, but took results with the best of spirit, whatever these might be.

Deep sympathy goes out to the mother and to two sisters who survive deceased.

Captain Ray Macdonald (Dingwall), in a letter to Mrs Sutherland, says: “On behalf of my company, men and officers, I wish to express to you how grieved we are to have lost your son, Sergt. Wm. Sutherland. We offer you our most sincere sympathy. Willie was killed on the morning of the 20th September. The fighting was of the fiercest, and he was advancing with his platoon towards his objective when part of a bomb hit him in the forehead, killing him instantaneously. His officer, Mr Clark, was killed a few yards to his right, and his old platoon commander, Mr Mackenzie, a short distance in front of him. Many a brave man fell round that spot, where the heaviest fighting of the whole front took place, and it was only by the fine example and bravery of men like your son that the stubborn resistance of the enemy was overcome. Willie is buried in a little British cemetery within the ground that he helped to win and paid so dearly for. He lies beside several others of his comrades. Your son was not only one of the mainstays of my company, but also the most popular N.C.O. in the whole battalion. Especially was he to the fore in organising sports, and he always coached the battalion tug-of-war team.”