John Donald

Died of Wounds on the 15/12/1918 at Springburn Red Cross Hospital, Glasgow. Wounds received on the 04/11/1918 at Mazinghem

The 1st Divisional Ammunition Column were part of the Division Artillery, 1st Division. According to John's Army Register of Soldiers Effects and his Pension Record he was part of the 113th Battery, 25th Brigade. The 1st Division fought at the Battle of the Selle, 17th - 25th October 1918 and the Division fought at the Battle of the Sambre at the passage of the Sambre-Oise Canal on the 4th November 1918 (John received his wounds on the 4th November 1918 at Mazinghem). These were phases of the Final Advance in Picardy, 17th October - 11th November 1918. The hardest-fought of the final offensive actions. First, Third and Fourth Armies exploited their success in breaking the Hindenburg Line by pushing on across the Rivers Selle and Sambre, recapturing Valenciennes and finally in liberating Mons, where it had all begun for the British Expeditionary Force more than four years before. The 1st Division was selected to advance into Germany and form part of the Occupation Force at Bonn. SEE PHOTOS x 14 FOR THE 25th BRIDADE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY WAR DIARY FROM OCTOBER - DECEMBER 1918. John's Grave was erected by his Father and Mother and they both joined their son when they died. I personally laid a Poppy at the Family Grave on the 27/03/2022 (Mother's Day). John is also remembered on the Coatbridge Technical College and Gartsherrie Churches Rolls of Honour (see photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his name on the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Reburial Form, his Headstone Report x 2, Old Monkland Cemetery, the Royal Field Artillery Cap Badge and John's Pension Records x 2.