John McPherson Young - Link to Falkirk

Menin Gate Memorial. Authors image

736525 Private 19th Battalion (Central Ontario), 4th Canadian Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division.

Age: 36

Date of death: 10.11.17

Buried: Menin Gate Memorial Panel 18

Family history: Son of Catherine McPherson Wylie (formerly Young) 143 Grahams Road, Falkirk. He was born in Newcastle and the family moved to Falkirk. John was unmarried and  was living at Bow Island, Alta, Canada and was employed as a Miner when he enlisted on 16 February 1916 in Lethbridge, Alta. He sailed for the UK on 7 October 1916 and landed in Liverpool on 6 October before going onto East Sandling Camp, Kent. He joined the 19th Battalion in France on 3 May 1917. On the 4 July 1917 he was sentenced to three days field Punishment No.1 for conduct to the prejudice good order and military discipline in that he failed to comply with an order. On the 27 September he was sentenced to 21 days Field Punishment No.1 for the same offence.

Map from Battalion War Diary

Action leading to his death

On the 8  November the Battalion moved from the Potijze area and took over the right front line sector of the 2nd Division. From the 8 to 12 November the Battalion was engaged in consolidating the front line around Passchendaele with wire entanglements of the front line. They also created a line of defensive trench systems with a line of outposts in shell holes and joining up the disconnected pieces of trench. A strong point was created at Crest Farm. On the 10 November the Germans shelled the Battalion area continuously from 6.30am to 6.30pm and this, along with the weather conditions, made the situation difficult. The Battalion was relieved by the 54th Battalion on 12 November. Battalion casualties for the period were two Officers wounded, Other Ranks 13 killed, 1 died of wounds, 59 wounded, 3 gassed, 3 missing, and 3 sick.