S/11901 Sergeant
2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, 20th Infantry Brigade, 7th Division
Age: 37
Date of Death: 4.10.17
Buried: Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 135 to 136 https://www.theypressalient.com/post/tyne-cot-cemetery-and-memorial
Family history: Husband of Margaret and they lived at 4 Grangemouth Road, Ladysmill, Falkirk with their three children. John was employed as a range fitter at the Dorrator Iron Works. He was also secretary of Falkirk Victoria Harriers a local running club that is still active to this day. He served twelve years in the local Militia, 3rd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, and had gone with the Argyll’s to France in August 1914. He was later transferred to the Gordon Highlanders.
The action leading to his death
On the night of the 2/3 October the Battalion moved up to the front line at Polygon Wood, with Battalion HQ in the Butte, in preparation for the attack on the 4 October. To be known as the Battle of Broodseinde Ridge. The ridge was the objective of the 7th Division and the 1st Australian which was located on the left. The first objective was allocated to the 8th Devonshires with the 2nd Border Regiment and 2nd Gordon Highlanders to take the final objective beyond the crest of the ridge the ruined hamlet of Noordemhoek.
At 6am the advance, behind a barrage, began with the War Diary recording:
The officers of the Gordons had great difficulty in restraining their men from going on with the Devonshires, and afterwards it was found that some had done so. By 7am the first objective had been taken and at 7.50am the Battalion moved forward. At 8.10am, the barrage which had halted some 200 yards in front he first objective, moved forward again with the Gordons keeping close to it. As they went forward they drove everything before them the War Diary:
The Battalion reached the final objective of Noordemhoek at 9am with only 40 casualties and they began to consolidate their positions. It was now that they began to suffer heavy casualties with the Germans putting down very heavy and continuous fire. By 7pm Battalion HQ had moved forward from the Butte to a Pill Box near the first objective and at midnight rations were brought up under great difficulty due to the enemy fire.
The Battalion casualties from the 4 to 7 October, when they were relieved were 3 Officers killed, 9 wounded. Other Ranks killed 50, wounded 236, and missing 26.
John will have know L/Sergeant William Dickson from Slamannan who served in the same battalion and died in the same action. https://www.theypressalient.com/post/william-dickson
Medals Awarded:
The British War Medal, Victory Medal.
