John A Buchanan

Killed in Action on the 25/10/1918 at Mushak

The 1st Battalion was part of the 51st Indian Brigade,17th Indian Division from September 1917. John arrived in France with the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry on the 14/07/1914. The Highland Light Infantry Chronicles of January 1915 edition states John was wounded in action. John was Killed in Action at Mushak. SEE PHOTOS x 15 FOR THE 1st BATTALION WAR DIARY FOR OCTOBER 1918. Conditions in Mesopotamia defy description. Extremes of temperature (120 degrees F was common); arid desert and regular flooding; flies, mosquitoes and other vermin: all led to appalling levels of sickness and death through disease. Under these conditions, units fell short of Officers and men, and all too often the reinforcements were half-trained and ill-equipped. Medical arrangements were quite shocking, with wounded men spending up to two weeks on boats before reaching any kind of hospital. These factors, plus of course the unexpectedly determined Turkish resistance, contributed to high casualty rates. Casualties : 11,012 Killed, 3,985 Died of Wounds, 12,678 Died of Sickness, 13,492 Missing and Prisoners (9,000 at Kut), 51,836 Wounded. John is also remembered in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) and Coatbridge Technical College Rolls of Honour (see photos). 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 Basra Memorial, the CWGC Basra Memorial Roll of Honour x 3, John's name on the CWGC Basra Memorial Roll of Honour, his name on the Basra Memorial Panel List, the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge, John's Pension Records x 2 and a Newspaper clipping from the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser 30/11/1918.