John Lithgow

Private John Lithgow

15981 Private

11th Battalion, Royal Scots, 27th Infantry, Brigade, 9 Division

Age: 19

Date of Death: 11 October 1915

Buried: Bedford House Cemetery, Enclosure No.4 VIII.C21

Family history: The son of Eliza Jane Lithgow. He was born in Standburn, and resided at Polmont where he was employed as a miner at Craigend Colliery. He moved to Tollcross in Glasgow where he was employed as a miner.

He enlisted in October 1914. His brother Robert Lithgow, 13th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, died at home on 11 January 1919 and is buried in Muiravonside Cemetery. His half-brother Private James Eadie, 11th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, was Killed in Action on 15 September 1916, and is listed on the Thiepval Memorial.

The action that led to his death

The Battalion was in the line at The Bluff, which is located to the south of Zillebeke. They took over Trench 30 to 32R. The battalion War Diary records that during retaliation fire from a Belgian Artillery Battery against the German lines one of the shells fell short and killed four and wounded two from the battalion. John Lithgow was one of the casualties.

War Diary

Trench map showing the location of the action

War Diary

Medals Awarded

1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Headstone

Private John Lithgow. Authors image