The 8th (Service) Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 10/05/1915. John arrived in France on the 14/07/1915. On the 07/05/1916 they moved to Bethune and transferred to the 44th Brigade,15th (Scottish) Division. Four days later they amalgamated with 10th (Service) Battalion to form 8/10th (Service Battalion. John was originally in the 8th (Service) Battalion and it was with the amalgamated Battalion that he was awarded his Distinguished Conduct Medal. On the 06/06/1918 the 8/10th (Service) Battalion were reduced to cadre, with surplus troops going to the 1/5th (Buchan and Formatin) Battalion Gordon Highlanders who were part of the 44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. 'Reduced to cadre' is a term used in the context of the British Army during World War I. It refers to a situation where a Battalion or Unit is reduced in strength to a basic core. The term 'cadre' refers to the core group of Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers who are responsible for training and organizing new recruits. The reason for reducing a unit to cadre could be due to a variety of reasons such as heavy casualties, illness, or the need to reorganize the unit. SEE PHOTOS x 17 FOR THE 1/5th (BUCHAN and FORMARTIN) BATTALION WAR DIARY JULY 1918. ALSO SEE PHOTOS x 11 FOR THE 15th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK 20th APRIL - 15th JULY 1918 and PHOTOS x 4 FOR THE 15th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION AFTER THE ARMISTICE . John was with the 8/10th (Service) Battalion when he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on the 14/11/1916 for conspicuous gallantry - "On three successive occasions Private Gentleman carried urgent messages to the firing line passing through two heavy enemy barrages, where several runners had been killed and wounded and other foiled. He has been frequently brought to notice for great bravery and devotion under similar circumstances" (see photos for John's D.C.M. mentioned in the 15th (Scottish) Division book). The Battalion were at Bresle at this time. On receiving his award John's former colleagues at the Woodside Iron Works gave him a wallet of banknotes and a cigarette case. John was killed outright by a shell as he chatted to comrades on the parapet of his trench. See Newspaper clippings for letter sent to John's parents from his Commanding Officer, the Corps Chaplain and his Lieutenant. John was a noted junior footballer in his younger years. 1st additional grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. John is also remembered on the Masonic Lodge No 203 and Coats Parish Church's Rolls of Honour x 2, in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour and on the Airdrie War Memorial (see photos x 2). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his Distinguished Conduct Medal Index Card, his Distinguished Conduct Medal Citation, Mindel Trench British Cemetery, John's Pension Records x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, the Gordon Highlanders Cap Badge and the 15th (Scottish) Division Order of Battle x 13 (the Division he was with when he died). John's grave inscription reads "HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE". Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 8 (Coatbridge Express x 3, Coatbridge Leader x 2 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 3), additional grave photos x 2. Main grave photo, 2 other photos and 2 photos of Mindel Trench British Cemetery taken by John's relative Steve Taylor and kindly donated to the site.
