Military History

John is listed as dying of wounds on 26 Mar 1918. His body was originally buried by German forces at St. Martin's Military Cemetery, St. Quentin and it is assumed he died in a German Hospital or Casualty centre.

John's Red Cross records roughly translate from German as "Died on March 26, 1918 as a result of a gunshot wound in the field hospital at St. Quentin, funeral in the Haynecourt War Cemetery".

The records found do not identify the day on which John was captured, however a report in the Warwick Advertiser on 11 May 1918 states that John had been missing since 21 Mar 1918 and therefore the 2nd/6th Battalion War diary entries for the period 20th to 26th March 1918 are transcribed below.

Front Line outside St. Quentin - 20 March 1918: Two companies A & C raided the enemy lines in front of St. Quinten from Fayet and took 12 prisoners and 1 machine gun, our casualties 1 killed and 4 wounded.

Front Line outside St. Quentin - 21 March 1918: Enemy bombardment commenced at 4.45am and continued till 11.30am

Front Line outside St. Quentin - 22 March 1918: Battalion ordered to retire about 12 noon, Col. Davidson formed an extended line with his men from Attilly in the northern direction joining on his right with the 2/7th R War R and kept up a slow rearguard fight to the Army Line, which the remains of the Battalion reached about 4.30 in the afternoon: A further retirement was made at about 6.00pm to Beauvois where Col. Davidson collected 40 men and occupied an old French trench: At 7.30pm he sent 2/Lt F Hardy away to get orders, but he did not return and has not been seen since; at 9.30pm Col. Davidson collected his men with the intention of endeavouring to re-occupy the line, he went forward himself with the R.S.M. and taking a rifle sniped at the enemy whom he found occupying the line, he returned to the trench by the Village and collected some stragglers of other units, making his force about 80 strong.

At 10.45pm he sent another officer back for orders, as his right flank was then being attacked but this officer reached HQ too late for retirement orders (which should have reached Col. Davidson at 9.30pm) to be sent to him.

Front Line outside Beauvois - 23 March 1918: Being almost surrounded Col. Davidson withdrew his force as 2.0am. They rested at Matigny and reached Voyennes without loss at 8am, they were then joined a further party of the 2/6th R. War R at Billancourt at about 2.30pm. This other party of about 120 men under 2 Officers was collected at Voyennes and at 4.30am on the 23rd was marched to Languevoisin reaching there about 5.0am. At 10.30am they were sent to Breuil but found it occupied by our troops, they then made for Billancourt, where they arrived at 2.30pm.

In the Field - Billancourt - 24 March 1918: At 11.30am the Battaliion then about 140 strong, left Billancourt under Col. Davidson and occupied the Canal du Nord on the West bank behind Buverchy.

In the Field - Buverchy - 25 March 1918: At 5.0pm when forces on our right gave way they had to retire. Col. Davidson collected all the troops he could in Moyencourt and put up a fight until wounded. The remainder of the Battalion retired to Villers aux Erables, arriving there on the 26th.

In the Field - Villers aux Erables - 26 March 1918: In evening marched and dug in, in front of Maison Blanche where they were joined by the details from the rear consisting of 8 Officers and about 140 men. END