John Lamond

Private John Lamond

S/40873 Private

4th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, 154 Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division

Age: 22

Date of Death: 20 September 1917

Buried: Tyne Cot Memorial, Panel 132 to 135

Family history: He was the eldest son of Mr George Lamond, Bridgehill, Avonbridge. Employed as a miner at Redford Colliery before enlisting in the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders on 12 November 1914. He was later transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders.

The action that lead to his death

On 20 September 1917, 154 Brigade was allotted the task of carrying out an attack on the German lines at Poelcappelle. The object of the operation was to secure a satisfactory ‘jumping off’ place for an attack against Poelcappelle, and to secure positions in the valley of the Steenbeek from which the artillery could cover the attack. There was a well defined trench line, running across the Divisions front about 150 yards from the British front line, known as Pheasant Trench and New Trench and some 1200 yards in rear Kangaroo and Beer Trenches. The 4th Seaforths on the left encountered serious resistance and hand-to-hand fighting developed. It was in Pheasant Trench between Point 85 and the Lekkerboterbeek that they experienced the fiercest fighting. Here the trench was very strongly held, with newly-constructed posts in front, some being as much as forty yards in advance of it. The company detailed for the capture of the trench advanced in twos and threes from shell-hole to shell-hole. The battalion had little difficulty in capturing Pheasant Trench and consolidating as prearranged.

Linesman Map

The Battalion War Diary records the casualties as 3 Officers killed, Other ranks 9 killed, 1 died of wounds, 5 missing and 30 wounded. John Lamond was on of the casualties. He is listed amongst the missing on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Medals Awarded

British War Medal, Victory Medal

Private John Lamond, Seaforth Highlanders, Medal Index Card