Military History

John is listed as being killed in action on 15th October 1918. The 1st Battalion war diary entries for the 14th, 15th & 16th October are transcribed below

Support 14^th October 1918: The Bn passed through the 15^th Bn E of Moorseele and attacked Gulleghem without artillery support and was held up by 3 belts of barbed wire and heavy machine gun opposition about 500 yards west of Gulleghem

Line 1700: Bn again attacked Gulleghem attempting an outflanking movement but only progressed about 200 yards.

With rifle fire we bought down a German reconnaissance machine and captured the Aviators (One Officer and one NCO)

Casualties:
Officers wounded 3
Other Ranks: Killed 23, wounded 92, missing 8, died from wounds 1

Line near Gulleghem  - 15^th October 1918: The Battalion again attacked (with artillery barrage) Gulleghem and reached objective 1000 yards E of Gulleghem where the 2^nd Bn passed through our Bn and reached line of Corps objective (Heule).

A gap occurred between 2^nd Bn on the right and 9^th Division on the left and was filled up by our Battalion thus bringing it into the front line again.

Casualties:
Officers: killed 1 & wounded 3
Other Ranks: Killed 3, wounded 24, missing 1

2/Lt W.C. Whelan took over the duties of Acting Adjutant since Capt & Adjutant J.C. Leeper wounded and Lieut W.C. Gardiner took over the duties of the asst Adjutant.

Line near Gulleghem  - 16^th October 1918: The Battn was relieved by the 9^th Division on the right and the 2^nd Bn R. I. Rifles on the left and moved into billets at Rollinghem Cappel where the Bn Transport rejoined the Battalion.

Casualties:
Other Ranks: 3 wounded

Bn captured between the 14^th and 16^th one Howitzer