The 12th (Service) Battalion Royal Scots arrived in France in May 1915 and were part of the 27th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. John disembarked at Boulogne on the 31/03/1918. He was posted Missing on the 25/04/1918. He was wounded and taken prisoner on that date. He succumbed to his wounds on the 12/05/1918 and was buried by the Germans. John received his wounds at the Second Battle of Kemmel, 25th - 26th April 1918. This was part of the Battles of the Lys, 9th April - 29th April 1918 : The third German offensive Operation Georgette takes place in Flanders with the objective of capturing key railway and supply roads and cutting off British Second Army at Ypres. After initial successes the German attack is once again held after British and French reserves are somehow found and deployed. He is 1 of 16 prisoners of war who lie in Dendermonde Communal Cemetery and Extension (1 of those remains unidentified). John was formerly with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (38270) before transferring to the 12th Battalion Royal Scots on the 02/04/1918. Main grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. He is also remembered at the Family Plot in New Monkland Cemetery (see photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 2 (clipping 2 tells the story of John's brother Gavin), John's Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 3, his Headstone Report x 2, another 2 photos of John's grave, photos of the 16 men's graves at the Cemetery x 2, Derdermonde Communal Cemetery and Extension, John's Service Records x 15, his Pension Record, his previous Regiment the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge and the Royal Scots Cap Badge. John's grave inscription reads "HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE." Finally, see photos for John's brother Gavin's Medal Index Card, his Silver War Badge Record, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his Pension Records x 2 and the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge.
