The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 11/05/1915 as part of the 27th Brigade. On the 06/05/1916 the Battalion transferred to the 26th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. John arrived in France in July 1916 and was in many of the big engagements. He was home in Coatbridge visiting friends just 5 weeks before he fell. On the 30th / 31st December 1917, German troops dressed in white camouflage suits surprised British Battalions in snow on the southern part of the Cambrai front. A difficult defensive action took place: the Action of Welsh Ridge. From the History of the 9th (Scottish) Division : "From the 17th December there were heavy falls of snow, but in spite of the inclement weather the enemy launched an attack early on the morning of the 30th against the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, which had relieved the 61st Division on our left. After a violent barrage he broke into its trenches, and two parties taking the position of the Highland Brigade in the flank were repelled by the Argylls only after a desperate conflict, in which the enemy sustained heavy losses. During the afternoon a counterattack of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division succeeded in recapturing part of the lost trenches". 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. The Fins New British Cemetery was not begun until July 1917. It was used by fighting units (especially the 40th, 61st (South Midland) and 9th (Scottish) Divisions) and Field Ambulances until March 1918. John's Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. He is also remembered in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. I have records regarding John's 2 brothers. Please contact if interested. 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 x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Fins New British Cemetery, John's Pension Record x 2 and the Argyll and Sutherland Fusiliers Cap Badge. John's grave inscription reads "TO MEMORY DEAR".
