The 2nd Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 05/11/1914 and was part of the 23rd Brigade, 8th Division. John was shot through the head on the opening day of the British attack at Neuve Chapelle, 10th - 13th March 1915 : British First Army mounts first offensive on large scale: costly in terms of casualties but results in capture of Neuve Chapelle. Localised operations continue afterwards. Neuve Chapelle was the first large scale organised attack undertaken by the British Army during the war. It followed the miserable winter operations of 1914-15. More Divisions had now arrived in France and the British Expeditionary Force was now split into two Armies. Neuve Chapelle was undertaken by Sir Douglas Haig's First Army, while subsequent actions were fought by Sir Herbert Smith-Dorrien's Second Army. SEE PHOTOS x 12 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY 1st - 20th MARCH 1915. ALSO SEE PHOTOS x 20 FOR ADDITIONS TO THE WAR DIARY. The casualties for the Battalion from War Diary (11) from the 10th to 14th March 1915 - 13 Officers Killed (John listed), 9 Officers Wounded, 112 Other Ranks Killed, 314 Wounded and 21 Missing. SEE PHOTOS x 17 FOR THE 8th DIVISION BOOK MARCH 1918. John had been a brilliant student at Glasgow University and was President of Airdrie Junior Imperialists. He was at home one month before his death. Additional Grave photos kindly donated by Mick McCann at at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. and my friend in France, Thierry Dericbourg (see photos). John is also remembered on the New Wellwynd Church Roll of Honour, New Monkland Cemetery Family Plot and Airdrie War Memorial (see photos). See photos for John and his father listed on the Airdrie Electoral Register 1910-11, Brown's Road Military Cemetery, the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2. Finally, see photos x 17 for Newspaper clippings (Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser 20/03/1915 x 9, Coatbridge Express 17/03/1915 x 1 and Coatbridge Leader 20/03/1915 x 7) and the 8th Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division who he was with when he died).
