John McLeod likeness

John McLeod cap badgePrivate John McLeod

1/5th (Buchan and Formartin) Battalion Gordon Highlanders
Service No: 5495

John McLeod grave

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Click here for a frameable A4 print
Personal details

Family Information

John's effects and property were left to his aunt Catherine Miller and his sister Jessie. John's Pension was awarded to his foster mother Catherine Miller then to his uncle Archibald Miller of 37 North Square, Coatbridge.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 37 North Square, Coatbridge with his aunt Catherine and his uncle Archibald Miller. Catherine received the news of his death.

Died

Killed in Action on the 13/11/1916 at the capture of Beaumont Hamel during the Battle of the Ancre (part of the Battles of the Somme)

Enlisted

Hamilton

Employed

Iron Worker with William Baird and Company

Age

22

Buried / Remembered

"Y" Ravine Cemetery (A. 17), Beaumont Hamel, Somme, France

Cemetery / Memorial Information

"Y" Ravine runs East and West about 800 metres South of the village, from "Station Road" to the front line of July 1916. It was a deep ravine with steep sides, lined with dug-outs, with extending two short arms at the West end. The village of Beaumont-Hamel was attacked and reached on 1 July, 1916, by units of the 29th Division (which included the Royal Newfoundland Regiment), but it could not be held. It was attacked again and captured, with the Ravine, by the 51st (Highland) Division on 13 November 1916. The Newfoundland Memorial Park, and the 29th and 51st Divisional Memorials within it, commemorate these engagements, and "Y" Ravine Cemetery is within the Park. The village was later "adopted", with three others in the Somme, by the City of Winchester. The cemetery was made by the V Corps in the spring of 1917, when these battlefields were cleared. It was called originally "Y" Ravine Cemetery No.1. No.2 cemetery was concentrated after the Armistice into Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel. There are now over 400, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over a third are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 53 soldiers (or sailors or Marines) from the United Kingdom and eight from Newfoundland, known or believed to be buried among them.

Additional Information

The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 03/05/1915 and were part of the 153rd Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division. John was Killed in Action during the capture of "Y" Ravine at Beaumont Hamel, Somme. This was part of the Battle of the Ancre, 13th - 18th November 1916 : The Battle was now extended northwards across to the far side of he River Ancre. The British force attacked in fog and snow on the 13th November from the very same front lines from which the attack had failed so badly on the 1st July. Beaumont-Hamel was finally captured but Serre once again proved an objective too far. Considerable casualties were sustained before the Battle was called off. This was part of the Battles of the Somme and also the end of the Somme offensive. Battles of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 : A Franco-British offensive that was undertaken after Allied strategic conferences in late 1915, but which changed its nature due to the German attack against the French in the epic Battle of Verdun, which lasted from late February to November. Huge British losses on the first day and a series of fiercely-contested steps that became attritional in nature. For all armies on the Western Front it was becoming what the Germans would call "materialschlacht" : a war not of morale, will or even manpower, but of sheer industrial material might. The 15/09/1916 saw the first-ever use of tanks in the step known as the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. The British army in France is now approaching its maximum strength in numbers but is still developing in terms of tactics, technology, command and control. John's Grave photo donated by Mick McCann at britishwargraves.co.uk. Also remembered on the Gartsherrie Works x 2 and in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for myself at "Y" Ravine Cemetery after a fundraising walk in 2010. Also see photos for John's Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, "Y" Ravine Cemetery, his Headstone Report, John's Pension Record, his CWGC Grave Registration x 3 and his Gordon Highlanders Cap Badge.

Photos
John McLeod newspaper clippingJohn McLeod newspaper clippingJohn McLeod newspaper clippingJohn McLeod remembered at homeJohn McLeod remembered at homeJohn McLeod remembered at homeJohn McLeod remembered at homeJohn McLeod additional photoJohn McLeod additional photoJohn McLeod additional photoJohn McLeod additional photoJohn McLeod additional photoJohn McLeod additional photo

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