Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
05/10/1884
Geboorteplaats:
Middlebie, Dumfriesshire, Schotland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Schrijnwerker

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Schotland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Strijdmacht:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
S/19744
Dienstneming datum:
16/04/1917
Dienstneming plaats:
Edinburgh, Midlothian, Schotland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Eenheden:
 —  Princess Louise’s (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders), 11th Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
22/08/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Beck House, Zonnebeke, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
32

Gedenkplaats

Tyne Cot Memorial
Paneel: 142A

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille — 02/06/1920
Victory Medal
Medaille — 02/06/1920

Points of interest 3

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats
#3 Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering)

Mijn verhaal

John Kerr was a 32-year old joiner from Edinburgh, Midlothian, who fell during the Battle of Passchendaele. He got called up in April 1917 and was embedded with the 11th Battalion Princess Louise’s (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders), part of the 45th Brigade of the 15th (Scottish) Division.

The Division participated in the Battle of Passchendaele and on 22 August 1917 it attacked to the West of Zonnebeke with two Brigades, the 44th Brigade on the left and the 45th Brigade on the right. The attack of the 45th Brigade was carried by the 13th Royal Scots and the 11th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. They had to capture and consolidate four German strongpoints dubbed, Potsdam, Vampir, Beck House and Borry Farm.

At 4.45 a.m., zero hour, the British barrage and the attack commenced. By 6.50 a.m. the attack of the 11th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders had been checked in front of Beck House and Borry Farm, as the men were held up by machine-gun- and sniper fire, coming from these strongpoints. In the meanwhile the advance of the Royal Scots had also been checked at Potsdam and Vampir. Any further advance proved neigh to impossible and around noon it was decided to fall back to consolidate a line.

John Kerr was killed in action on 22 August 1917, during the attack on Beck House and Borry Farm. The 32-year old has no known grave, possibly because his Battalion was forced to retreat, leaving many of the fallen behind. Private John Kerr is remembered on panel 142A of the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Bestanden 1

Bronnen 5

"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 62-63.
Gebruikte bronnen
Ancestry
https://www.ancestry.com/
Verdere verwijzing
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/834757/kerr,-john/
Gebruikte bronnen
The Long, Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Gebruikte bronnen
War Diary Princess Louise’s (Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders), 11th Bn.
http://www.nmarchive.com/
Verdere verwijzing