John Close

Killed in Action on the 18/04/1915 during the capture of Hill 60, Ypres

The Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 15/08/1914 and were part of the 13th Brigade, 5th Division. John arrived in France on the 19/01/1915. He fell 3 months later during the Capture of Hill 60, South East of Ypres. See photos for the Capture of Hill 60 report detailing actions of the 2nd Battalion and 13th Brigade. General Officers Commanding 5th Division, 13th Infantry Brigade and 15th Infantry Brigade, on the fighting on HILL 60 from the 17th to the 21st April 1915 - "The 13th Infantry Brigade stormed the hill on two occasions; Battalions of the 14th and 15th Infantry Brigades relieved them on the hill and have held on to it ever since, in spite of all the enemy's efforts to recapture it by fair means or foul. The Battalions which share this glory are the 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, Queen Victoria's Rifles, 2nd Battalion Cameron Highlanders, and the 1st Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment. The 59th Company Royal Engineers and the 2nd Home Counties Field Company Royal Engineers gave the utmost assistance to their comrades in the Infantry. I wish to record my opinion that the gallantry and endurance displayed by all ranks throughout these operations were beyond all praise. Our Artillery, greatly outnumbered, did all that was possible, with the aid of No.1 Squadron Royal Flying Corps, to assist the Infantry, but they could make little impression on the enemy's numerous guns and howitzers scattered in concealed positions, and the concentration of hostile artillery fire on the small hill top was intense, continuous and devastating. Our Infantry suffered many casualties also from hand grenades. Soldiers who refuse to be terrified or thrown back by a bombardment of this fury can stand anything. They cannot be beaten. In my opinion the chief lesson to be deduced from this fighting is the importance of training our Infantry to the use of the hand grenade, and the necessity of equipping them with the least possible delay with abundant supplies of the Mills grenade, the most simple and effective grenade yet tested. Another lesson, not new, but again exemplified, is the impossibility of neutralizing the enemy's guns unless we have an equal or greater number of batteries, inexhaustible supplies of ammunition, and a sufficiency of aerial observers. This last implies a better equipment than we possess at present of aeroplanes fitted with wireless, and of wireless masts, receivers and operators attached to batteries". SEE PHOTOS x 12 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY MARCH - APRIL 1915. The War Diary states casualties for the 18th April were - "Officers Killed 3, Wounded 7, Other Ranks Killed 38, Wounded 128, Missing 35". John was reported as wounded and missing since 18/04/1915 with no further trace of him in the 07/07/1915 edition of the Coatbridge Express. John's brother-in-law Private David Murray (2nd Highland Light Infantry) was wounded early in the war and after a short stay at home he returned to his Regiment. He was a Reservist and worked at Kipps. 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 Menin Gate Memorial Panel List, his name on the Menin Gate Memorial and the King's Own Scottish Borderers Cap Badge. Finally, see photos for Coatbridge Express Newspaper clipping 14/07/1915, the 5th Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division he was with when he died), a photo of Italian children listening to a Piper of the 2nd Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers playing in a village and PHOTOS x 15 FOR THE 5th DIVISION BOOK 6th - 19th APRIL 1915.