Gavin arrived in France on the 01/06/1915 (exactly 2 weeks before he was killed) and the 1st Field Company were part of the 1st Canadian Division. Gavin returned home to Coatbridge on furlough and visited family and friends before leaving for France. Gavin was shot through the head 12 days before his 34th birthday at Le Quesnoy during the Second Action of Givenchy, 15th -16th June 1915 : On their right, the Canadians were to attack a strong point called "Dorchester" and forming a defensive flank near the Canal; on their left, the 51st (Highland) Division would move on Rue d'Ouvert from the north. The evening of the 15th : The Infantry advanced at 5.58pm, just after the miners of the 176th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers had blown a 3000-lb mine under the Duck's Bill position. The German line in this area was formidable, with very deep trenches and dugouts that the weak British bombardment (not helped by poor observation through long grass and poor light) barely touched. Machine gun and rifle fire cut down most of the attacking troops. The attack was a complete failure. On the left of the Yorks advance, a small party under 2/Lt. Lloyd Jones bombed their way towards the mine crater down a sunken lane, but eventually every one of this party became a casualty. The 2nd Wiltshires did not even get as far as the Yorks, only a few men getting even as far as 50 yards from the German line in front of Chapelle St. Roch. The Canadians and Highlanders suffered similarly. SEE PHOTOS x 18 FOR THE 1st DIVISION WAR DIARY JUNE 1915. This was part of the Actions in the Spring and Summer of 1915 (Western Front), 15th June - 9th August 1915 : Localised operations seeking tactical advantage. After the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, the French high command came to believe that the British could undertake an offensive action, not just fight a dogged defence. The prestige of the British in that operation, which was judged by all to have been a success even though it fell far short of the strategic goal of breaking through to Lille, rose considerably. It led to increased French pressure for the British army, still small and woefully under-gunned, to play an increasing part in offensive warfare. The Battles of Aubers and Festubert in May 1915 came as a result of this pressure, with woeful results. Gavin served with the 2nd Lanark Royal Engineers for 3 years previously and was promoted to Lance Corporal of the 1st Field Company on the 03/02/1915. The photo of Gavin's name on the Vimy Memorial kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. See photos for Gavin's Newspaper clippings x 2, his name on the Gartsherrie Church Roll of Honour, his name in the Canadian WW1 Book of Remembrance, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Vimy Memorial, his Attestation Records x 2, other Canadian Records on Gavin x 15 and the Canadian Engineers Cap Badge. Finally, 2 photos of myself at the Vimy Memorial 2010 and 2 of myself and partner Linda there in July 2023.
