John Faulds

John and the Battalion arrived in France in 09/07/1915 and were part of the 45th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. The Battalion were involved in the First Battle of the Scarpe, 9th - 14th April 1917. John was Killed in Action at the Second Battle of the Scarpe on the 23/04/1917 : The Division captured Guemappe. These 2 battles were part of the Arras offensive (Battle of Arras), 9th April - 16th June 1917 : Once again the British are called upon to launch an attack in support to a larger French offensive: the Battles of the Chemin des Dames and the hills of Champagne. The opening Battle of Vimy and the First Battle of the Scarpe are very encouraging, but once again the offensive - often known as the Battle of Arras - bogs down into an attritional slog. Final attempts to outflank the German lines at Bullecourt prove terribly costly. SEE PHOTOS x 42 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY APRIL 1917. The Battalion War Diary states casualties from the 23rd - 30th April were : "Officers Killed 5, Wounded 4, Missing 6. Other Ranks Killed 21, Wounded 169 (includes 8 who remained at duty and 1 self-inflicted), Missing 71". ALSO SEE PHOTOS x 34 FOR THE 15th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK FEBRUARY - APRIL 1917. The History of the 15th (Scottish) Division book states Battalion casualties were : "From the 21st - 30th April - Officers Killed 5, Wounded 4, Missing 6. From the 19th - 25th April - Other Ranks Killed 21, Wounded 160, Missing 71 (see Division book photo 34)" and the 15th (Scottish) Division casualties for the month of April were - "Officers - Killed 80; Wounded 203; Missing 10 = 293. Other Ranks - Killed 887; Wounded 4410; Missing 723 = 6020 (see Division book photo 31)". John was formerly with the Cameron Highlanders (11772). John's brother was serving with the Royal Engineers at the time of his death. See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Arras Memorial Panel List, John's Pension Records x 3, a map of the ground captured during the Arras offensive, John's former Regiment the Cameron Highlanders Cap Badge and the Royal Scots Cap Badge. Finally, see photos for the 15th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 13 (the Division he was with when he died), Poppy placed by myself at John's name on the Arras Memorial in July 2023 x 2, Poppies placed by myself at John Faulds and John McCann's names on the Arras Memorial in July 2023, the Arras Memorial taken by myself from Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery in July 2023 (my partner Linda seated to the right) and Newspaper clippings x 4 (Coatbridge Express x 2, Coatbridge Leader x 1 and the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 1).