John Grahames

Killed in Action on the 26/09/1915 at Hill 70 on the 2nd day of the Battle of Loos

John and the Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 09/07/1915 and were part of the 45th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. The Battle of Loos, 25th of September - 15th of October 1915 : The first genuinely large scale British offensive action but once again only in a supporting role to a larger French attack in the Third Battle of Artois. British appeals that the ground over which they were being called upon to advance was wholly unsuitable were rejected. The battle is historically noteworthy for the first British use of poison gas. On the opening day (morning) : In the centre the 15th (Scottish) Division : In this sector the gas cloud hung back, causing delays and some losses to the advancing troops. Although the infantry had only 200 yards to cross from the heads of the Russian saps, the gas and smoke only covered them for the first 40 yards, and as men emerged into the clear, two German machine-guns swept twice across the advancing line, causing many casualties. The afternoon and evening : 15th (Scottish) Division was in some difficulty, despite having succeeded in capturing Loos itself. Men were helplessly pinned down on the forward slope of Hill 70, and the artillery support that had been called for since 10.50am was only just beginning to happen. The enemy made a determined attempt, having reinforced this area, to envelop the troops lying out in the open and to force them towards the second German line. On the 26th September - 5.00am : Orders are received by 15th (Scottish) Division. Reinforced by 21st Division, they are to recapture Hill 70 with an attack at 9.00am. It was proving virtually impossible to move artillery forward to support this attack, and ammunition supplies were dwindling, fresh ones being held up in traffic. The attack would be supported by artillery firing from their original positions, and the second German line would barely be touched. A bombardment of two rounds per gun per minute was ordered. In confusion, some units did not receive an order to withdraw from the most advanced positions, and British shells fell on their own infantry in places. Many infantry units did not receive orders to attack until 7.00am, and in at least one case, 8.00am. SEE PHOTOS x 19 (final photos) FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY JULY - SEPTEMBER 1915. The War Diary states - "HILL 70 - 26/9 : At 7.30am orders received that 45th Brigade would attack at 9am proceeded by 1 hours bombardment on the Redoubt. This was carried out but owing to the fatigue of the troops and the mixture of units this was unsuccessful. The Battalion held on to its trenches facing the enemy till 5pm when they returned and were relieved by the 6th Cavalry Brigade. During the day two unsuccessful attacks were made by the 21st Division to join up with our left flank : Casualties during the two days fighting were : Killed 6 Officers and 63 Men. Wounded 12 Officers and 246 Men. Missing 1 Officer and 80 Men. Men rested that night at Quality Street". John was Killed in Action on the second day of the Battle of Loos. He was 1 of 99 men from the Coatbridge Memorial who fell during and from injuries from the Battle of Loos. This from Private C. Tain, 7th Royal Scots Fusiliers - "We advanced through the German front line trenches and through Loos. Thereafter we attempted to capture Hill 70 but when going over the crest the enemy opened fire. There was no shelter and the Scots Division was almost annihilated". His neighbour Private Patrick Quinn of the 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders was Killed at Loos the previous day (see Directory). John's death was not reported until a year later. Scottish Regiments lost a huge amount of brave men at Loos. Here is a list of Infantry Battalions who lost more than 500 men at the Battle of Loos from 25/09/1915 to 16/10/1915 - 7th Cameron Highlanders 687, of which 19 Officers, 9th Black Watch 680, of which 20 Officers, 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers 650, of which 20 Officers, 10th Highland Light Infantry 648, of which 20 Officers, 7th King's Own Scottish Borderers 631, of which 20 Officers, 8th Devons 619, of which 19 Officers, 8th Royal West Kents 580, of which 24 Officers, 8th Buffs 558, of which 24 Officers, 12th Highland Light Infantry 553, of which 23 Officers, 8th Black Watch 511, of which 19 Officers, 5th North Staffordshire 505, of which 20 Officers, 8th Seaforth Highlanders 502, of which 23 Officers. John is also remembered on the Stewarts and Lloyds Roll of Honour, in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour and at the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery (both brothers remembered. See photos x 2). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his name on the Loos Memorial, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Loos Memorial Panel list, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, the Royal Scots Fusiliers Cap Badge, John's Pension Records x 2 and John's brother James' CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Runnymede Air Forces Memorial Panel List, Runnymede Air Forces Memorial and James' name on the Runnymede Memorial and Coatbridge War Memorial (WW2). Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 17 FOR THE 15th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK 25th - 26th SEPTEMBER 1915, PHOTOS FOR 33 PAGES FROM THE MOST UNFAVOURABLE GROUND BOOK REGARDING THE BATTALION and DIVISION 25/09/1915 (fantastic book on the Battle of Loos kindly signed by the author Niall Cherry), the 15th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 13 (the Division he was with when he died), see photos of a wreath x 2 placed by myself at Loos Memorial in July 2023 remembering ALL the men who left from the Iron Burgh who are named there, one of myself at the Royal Scots Fusiliers Panels at the Memorial (John listed left on right hand Panel) and Newspaper clippings x 3 (Coatbridge Express x 1, Coatbridge Leader x 1 and the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 1).