John originally joined the Ayrshire Yeomanry on the 31/10/1916 and remained in reserve before being called up to the Royal Scots Fusiliers and then being transferred to the Royal Scots with whom he sailed to Boulogne on the 20/02/1918. They were part of the 27th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. John received gunshot wounds to the head during the Final Advance in Flanders, 28th September - 11th November 1918 : The British Second Army and Belgian Army combine and finally break out of the Ypres salient. More ground is gained in a day that in the entire Passchendaele offensive of a year before. The offensive continues through fighting in the Courtrai area and eventually well across the Scheldt. John died at the 62nd Casualty Clearing Station (2/1st Northumbrian) a month before the Armistice. SEE PHOTOS x 5 FOR THE 11th ROYAL SCOTS WAR DIARY SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 1918. John's grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. Newspaper clippings state John's age as 20 when he fell. His Birth Certificate states he was 1 month off his 20th birthday when he fell. John is also remembered in the St. Patrick's Church (book) and on the Stewarts and Lloyds Rolls of Honour (see photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his name on the Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery, John's previous Regiments the Ayrshire Yeomanry and the Royal Scots Fusiliers Cap Badges, the Royal Scots Cap Badge, John's Pension Records x 2 and his Service Records x 11. Finally, see photos for John's name on the Clyde Tube Works panel (part of the Stewarts and Lloyds Roll of Honour plaque), the Stewarts and Lloyds Roll of Honour Plaque, Newspaper clippings x 2 (Coatbridge Express x 2 and the Coatbridge Leader x 1), PHOTOS x 26 FROM THE 9th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 1918 and the 9th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division he was with when he died). The History of the 9th (Scottish) Division book is available to read online
Here
