John Cochrane

Killed in Action on the 25/03/1918 at the 1st Battle of Bapaume (part of the 1st Battles of the Somme 1918)

ADDITIONAL FAMILY INFORMATION : From the 1891 Census - Address - 27 Watsons Land, Coatbridge - James Cochrane aged 30, Mary Ann Cochrane aged 26, John Cochrane aged 8, George Cochrane aged 6, Andrew Cochrane aged 3, William Cochrane aged 1. John (Service Number 8972) arrived in France on the 02/05/1915 with the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry. The 18th (Service) Battalion arrived in France on the 01/02/1916 and were part of the 106th Brigade, 35th Division when John fell at the 1st Battle of Bapaume. This was part of the 1st Battles of the Somme, 21st March - 5th April 1918 : After transferring very large forces from the now-collapsed Eastern Front, the German Army commits to a series of large-scale offensives. The first, Operation Michael, strikes the British Fifth and Third Armies. A deep advance is made and inflicts large losses, although the second phase, Operation Mars, at Arras on the 28th March, is soon held. In the crisis, the Allies decide at Doullens to appoint French General Foch as co-ordinator, and soon enough, as Generalissimo. Before enough French and British reserves are finally assembled to hold the German advance before it captures the critical railway junctions at Amiens. SEE PHOTOS x 6 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY MARCH 1918. According to the 35th Division book the Battalion casualties for March 1918 were : 6 Officers Wounded, 54 Other Ranks Killed and 172 Wounded. John was sent home in September 1917 with smallpox. He re-joined 6 months later to be back with his comrades. He previously joined the 4th Battalion Highland Light Infantry on the 03/09/1900 until 1906 as a Private (1753). See Directory for John's brother Private William Cochrane and his brother-in-law Private George Cummings' pages. See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Pozieres Memorial Panel List, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, another photo of John kindly sent by his Grandson John Miller, John's name on the Pozieres Memorial x 2, the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge, John's Attestation Papers (1900-1906) x 4 and his Pension Records x 2. Finally, see photos for Poppy placed at Pozieres Memorial by myself in July 2023 x 2, Pozieres Cemetery and Memorial taken by myself in July 2023 x 2, PHOTOS x 16 FOR THE 35th DIVISION BOOK 21st - 25th MARCH 1918 and the 35th Division Order of Battle x 14 (the Division John was with when he died).