Aged just 19, Private John Tough made the ultimate sacrifice on the fields of France, as three million men fought for five months over 15-miles of mud.
The Somme offensive was one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War, with more than one million of those combatants either killed or wounded.
Private Tough, known to friends as Jack, died during the third phase of the battle, on September 22, 1916 and is buried in the 2nd Canadian Cemetery near Contalmaison, a few miles from the River Somme.
He has not been forgotten, however, as his name is one of many inscribed on an Aberdeen war memorial.
Now school children have teamed up with his nephew – also named John Tough, of Bridge of Don – to research the stories behind those names.
Private Tough had emigrated to Canada but joined the 2nd Battalion of the Canadian Infantry and was deployed back to Europe.
The soldier’s nephew said the tragically young death of his uncle was a lesson in “the horrors of war”.
“He was my father’s brother and was killed on the banks of the Somme,” the 80-year-old former member of the RAF added.
“He grew up not far from where the war memorial is now sited in Bridge of Don.”
The community project is being led by Bridge of Don Remembers – a group made up of nine schools and three local churches – alongside the Oldmachar branch of Legion Scotland.
It was officially launched at the war memorial yesterday, and aims to encourage people of all ages to connect across the generations.
The schools will each put together an exhibition, take part in outreach activities and attend services during the week of the centenary anniversary of the Armistice.
Aberdeen Lord Provost, Councillor Barney Crockett, attended the launch event.
He said: “It’s an absolute privilege to be here to lend my support to a fabulous project that both commemorates the Bridge of Don’s war dead and involves all local schools in researching and celebrating the men behind the names.
“It’s a particular honour to have met John Tough, whose uncle gave up his life for his country in the First World War.
“It’s so important that the men and the tragedy of the conflicts are never forgotten and so my thanks goes to the Church of Scotland, the Oldmachar branch of Legion Scotland and all the Bridge of Don schools for their superb contributions in the build up to what will be the centenary of the Armistice.”
Sue Thomson, a member of the chaplaincy team at St Columba’s Church of Scotland and organiser for BOD Remembers, spoke of her “privilege” at being involved with the project from the start.
“When we first discussed it at a school chaplaincy meeting I don’t think either the head teachers or the ministers and youth workers thought it would take off in the way it has”, she said.
“In this 100th year since the end of the First World War, it is so important we stop and remember as a community. BOD Remembers is allowing us to do just that.
“With the churches, schools and Legion Scotland working together, we’re able to create links across the generations and learn from each other.
“I am so enjoying watching children research the names on the war memorial, create artwork, host coffee mornings for senior citizens in our community and work towards our two special acts of Remembrance.”
The project will culminate in nine days of activities, beginning with a launch service with an Act of Remembrance on Friday November 2.
It will finish with a Community Act of Remembrance, which is open to anyone, on Sunday November 11 by the War Memorial.
During the same week there will be nine handmade displays featuring hundreds of poppies created by pupils.
