John, we know you were one of the six children of Alexander and Jessie Chisholm of 20 Loaneckheim. You enlisted into the 1st Battalion of the Gordons at Inverness. We know that the 1st Gordons were at Wancourt on 1st March 1918, and were then in and out of the front line, sadly receiving a few casualties, until very heavy fighting began in this area on 20th March with a heavy enemy barrage. At 21.30 on the next day came the order "Pack up everything and stand to on the road". After you had all been issued with bombs you were eventually stood down. On the 23rd the first Germans appeared, but in the ensuing chaos some of your comrades had found a barrel of beer, and broached it, and one or two of your mates, including the stretcher bearers, had become more than a little inebriated. (They could of course have been court-martialed and shot). On the 27th there was another heavy German bombardment and even your senior officers were involved in the hand to hand fighting to save the trench. Then came the order to fix bayonets and attack over the top to take back the lost ground, but you were all exhausted, and the order was later rescinded. You yourself went missing on the 28th, but your body was never recovered. In addition to the Arras Memorial you are also commemorated on the family gravestone at St Mary's Eskadale, where your age is recorded as 23. John, our most sincere sympathy to you and your family. Rest in Peace. Terry and Harry.

Henry Harrison