Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: P. Priano
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John McDougall born at Jarrow, County Durham, was the eldest of 2 known children, his brother George was born in 1895, offspring of Archibald McDougall, native of Jarrow born 1862 and wife, unknown. Presumably a widower he remarried in 1898, district of South Shields, to local lady Rose Ann Morrow born 1863 with whom by 1911 he had had 2 children, only one of whom survived, Archibald Jnr born 1899. The family were living at Albion Street, Jarrow, in 1891 where Archibald Snr was employed at the shipyard as a plater’s labourer, by 1911 they had moved into 2 rooms on High Street, John (19) had joined his father at the shipyards as a labourer.
August 4th 1914 Britain declared war with Germany, John enlisted at Jarrow assigned as Private 22107 Royal Engineers. He must have had some military experience as he was drafted to the front immediately, August 16th 1914 where he joined the 57th Field Coy. The 56th and 57th Field Coy R.E. were in support of the 3rd Division during the Battle of Mons, August 23rd- September 5th 1914, the first major action undertaken by the British Expeditionary Force, the Marne September 7th-10th, the Aisne September 12th-15th and La Bassee October 10th-November 2nd 1914. They transferred to the 49th Division prior to the Battles of the Somme, seeing action at The Battle of Albert July 1st-13th 1916, Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th, Pozieres July 23rd-September 3rd and Flers-Courselette September 15th-22nd 1916. The 49th Division during 1917 had moved to Belgium participating at Broodseinde October 4th, Poelcappelle October 9th and at Passchendaele October 12th. Although the battle concluded November 10th 1917 they remained on the Ypres salient until spring 1918 when the division returned to France.
Private 22107 John McDougall was wounded in the line of duty and taken to the 99th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps, attached to the 33rd Division, where he succumbed to his wounds, March 1st 1918. He is at rest within Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium, grave III. C. 15 and was 26 years of age and single.
His step-mother received all monies due to him and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Next of kin listed with the CWGC is his brother Archibald McDougall of 13, Bell Street, East Jarrow, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
