The 11th Squadron were formed on the 29/02/1916 for the 5th (Mhow) Brigade, 1st Indian Cavalry Division. Machine gun sections were taken from the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, the 2nd Lancers and the 38th King George’s Own Central Indian Horse (the latter being of the Indian Army). They broke up on the 14/04/1918. John was formerly with the 5th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry from the 12/09/1914 to the 06/03/1916 when he disembarked in Rouen, France and joined the 6th Dragoon Guards (11981) in the field. He was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on the 29/12/1916. John was Killed in Action at the German counterattack, 30th November - 3rd December 1917 : On the 28th November, operations opened with a heavy gas bombardment of Bourlon. Two days later, the counterattack began in earnest. On the right flank, south of the Gouzeaucourt-Bonavis road, the break into British positions was swift. The defending 55th (2nd West Lancashire) Division and much of the 12th (Eastern) and 20th (Light) Divisions seemed to evaporate, and Snow called for reinforcements as early as 9am. Many artillery batteries soon came within range of advancing German infantry. Both they and units hurriedly ordered to shore up the clearly splintering defence were shocked at what they saw. Not least of them was the Guards Division, still recuperating from a mauling in Fontaine Notre Dame and now heading into what would become a bitter fight to hold the enemy at Gouzeaucourt : "First we had to struggle through the flood of terrified men, nothing seemed to stem the torrent of frightened men with eyes of hunted deer, without rifles or equipment, among them half-dressed officers presumably surprised in their sleep, and gunners who had had the sense and calmness to remove the breech blocks from their guns and were carrying them in their hands. Many were shouting alarming rumours, others yelling "Which is the nearest way to the coast?". This was part of the Cambrai operations (Battle of Cambrai), 20th November - 30th December 1917 : A British attack, originally conceived as a very large-scale raid, that employed new artillery techniques and massed tanks. Initially very successful with large gains of ground being made, but German reserves brought the advance to a halt. Ten days later, a counterattack regained much of the ground. Ultimately a disappointing and costly outcome, but Cambrai is now seen by historians as the blueprint for the successful "Hundred Days" offensives of 1918. His Grave photo was kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. See Directory for John's younger brother Thomas' page. John is also remembered on the Coatbridge Technical College and Dunbeth Parish Churches Rolls of Honour (John's brother Thomas is on another section of the Dunbeth Church Roll of Honour) and at the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery which lists John and his brother Thomas (see photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Cambrai Memorial, his name on the Cambrai Memorial Panel List, John's Service Record x 13, his and younger brother Thomas' Pension Records x 2, his previous Regiment the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) Cap Badge and the Machine Gun Corps Cap Badge.
