Matchbox and contained letter from Sgt Major George Cavan to his family (1)

George Cavan was a sergeant major in the Highland Light Infantry. He lived with his family, wife Jean and 3 daughters, in The Drill Hall in Carluke Scotland. While away at training camp the orders came through to dispatch to France. The train he was on with his troops went through his home station but did not stop there. He threw out onto the station a matchbox containing a note to his family. On one side was the name of his wife and on the other the message to the family. Someone picked up the matchbox and delivered it to the family. George was killed just a few days after arriving at the Front in France. He lies in an unmarked grave near Ypres. His name is on the memorial there.

Editor's Comment:
Company Serjeant Major 7988 George Cavan, 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Bn. Highland Light Infantry, Killed in Action 13th April 1918, is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. The 9th Bn. formed part of the 33rd Division, heavily engaged on the 12th-15th April resisting the German 'Spring Offensive' of 1918, in what would become known as the battle of Hazebrouck (second phase of the Battle of the Lys).

乔治·卡文（George Cavan）曾担任苏格兰高地轻步兵（Highland Light Infantry）的军士长（sergeant major）。他与家人——妻子琼（Jean）与三名女儿——一同居住在苏格兰卡卢克（Carluke）的操练馆（The Drill Hall）内。彼时他正随部队在训练营参训，调往法国的部署命令正式下达。他搭乘的运兵列车途经其家乡车站，但并未停靠。情急之下，他将一封写有留言的火柴盒掷向站台：火柴盒的一面印有妻子的姓名，另一面则是留给家人的讯息。有人拾获该火柴盒并将其转交至他的家人手中。乔治·卡文在抵达法国前线仅数日后便阵亡，长眠于伊普尔（Ypres）附近一处无标识的坟墓中，其姓名被镌刻在当地的纪念碑上。

【编辑按】
陆军编号7988的连军士长（Company Serjeant Major）乔治·卡文，隶属于苏格兰高地轻步兵第9（格拉斯哥高地人）营（9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Bn. Highland Light Infantry），于1918年4月13日阵亡（Killed in Action），其姓名被镌刻于普洛斯特尔特纪念碑（Ploegsteert Memorial）之上。该营隶属于第33步兵师（33rd Division），在1918年4月12日至15日期间参与了激烈战斗，以抵御德军的1918年春季攻势（German 'Spring Offensive'），该战事即日后被称为哈泽布鲁克战役（Battle of Hazebrouck），属于利斯河战役（Battle of the Lys）的第二阶段作战行动。