Other Information:John attested on 15th September 1914 and was embodied into the 1/2nd Lowland Field Ambulance. He was 28 years and 3 months old and living at 3 Royal Terrace, Springburn, Lanarkshire at the time. He went to Egypt with the unit, arriving on 25th June 1915 then served in Gallipoli. He was awarded the Good Conduct Badge on 19th September 1916. John went to France, disembarking at Merseilles on 17th April 1918. About 4.00 a.m. on 27th May 1918 the enemy started to shell St Eloi, with the first shell landing on one of the huts occupied by the personnel of this unit. This incident resulted in 10 O/Rs being slightly wounded, 6 O/Rs being severely wounded, 10 O/Rs were instantaneously killed, and 5 O/Rs died from wounds. (Taken from Unit war diary, kindly provided by Sam Biles) John was one of the 10 instantaneously killed. He was the son of John Atkin and Lucy Ann Astle, of "Ardmount" Ardmory Road, Ardbeg, Rothesay, Bute.
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