The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 14/08/1914. They part of the 76th Brigade, 3rd Division when John enlisted. John was Killed in Action on the opening day of the successful British attack at Arras. As part of the 3rd Division his Battalion fought in the 1st Battle of the Scarpe. The Arras Offensive, 9th April -16th June 1917 : Once again the British are called upon to launch an attack in support to a larger French offensive: the battles of the Chemin des Dames and the hills of Champagne. The opening Battle of Vimy and the First Battle of the Scarpe are very encouraging, but once again the offensive - often known as the Battle of Arras - bogs down into an attritional slog. Final attempts to outflank the German lines at Bullecourt prove terribly costly. John's Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. He is also remembered on the Gartsherrie Church Roll of Honour (see photos). John was originally buried in Ronville Military Cemetery (see Reburial photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWCG Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, another photo of John's Grave, Beaurains Road Cemetery, John's Pension Records x 4 and the Gordon Highlanders Cap Badge. John's grave inscription reads "OH FOR A TOUCH OF A VANISHED HAND THE SOUND OF A VOICE THAT IS STILL".
