Tyne Cot
Medal Index Card
John McDougall, was the eldest son born on the 10th October 1889, at the Farm House, Ford, in the hamlet of Encampment, to Joshua McDougall, [born 1864 in Duddo], a shepherd, and his wife Jane Ann, [born 1864 in Wooler].
John had three younger brothers called Thomas William, Herbert Stanley, Arthur George and a sister who was the eldest child called Ann born 1888 at Wooler, as well as a younger sister called Gertrude born 1908 at Eglington.
In 1901 the family moved to Shipley Hill Farm, Alnwick. John by this time was a labourer at a Whitestone Quarry.
John McDougall enlisted for the duration of the war, at Alnwick on the 9th December 1915, into the 29th (Reserve) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, his trade was described as a Marble Maker, [Formed in Alnwick in July 1915, as a reserve battalion, from depot companies of the Tyneside Scottish Battalions. 1st September 1916 they were converted into the 84th Training Reserve Battalion in 20th Reserve Brigade].
His service record now states that he was a 'Rabbit Catcher' and was aged 26 years and 4 months old, weighed 127lbs. 5 feet 2 and three-quarters inch high. Allocated a service number of 27893.
Posted to the 20th Battalion, (1st Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers, sent to France on the 15th July 1916. He then was attached to the Durham Light Infantry on the 31st July 1916. Then posted to the 13th (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry, based at the 31st Infantry Based Depot at Etaples.
Whilst at Etaples he developed pyrexia and was admitted to the 69th Field Ambulance station [this unit was part of the 23rd Infantry Division], on the 2nd September 1916.
When posted to the 13th (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry, he was allotted yet, a new service number of 45994, on the 13th September 1916.
Whilst in the field he had developed Myalgia [Chronic Fatigue Syndrome] on the 20th January 1917, and was sent to the 69th Field Ambulance unit, who then passed him down to the 17th Casualty Clearing Station based at Remy (siding). From there, he was at 14 General Hospital based at Wimeraux. Then was returned to the UK on the 26th January 1917 to recover.
John when recovered was sent to the 3rd Durham Light Infantry Depot before embarking at Folkestone on the 17th May 1917. Arriving at Boulogne on the same day, he was posted with the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry at Etaples again.
Two days later, he was posted to the 18th Battalion (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry.
On the 3rd of June he was posted this time to the 15th (Service) Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He arrived in the front line on the 5th June 1917. Unit of the 64th Brigade, 21st Division.
John was wounded on the 5th August 1917, by a gunshot wound in the leg, and returned to the front line on the 10th September.
He was killed in action on the 25th October 1917.
In his records is a letter dated 28th November 1934, from his father who wrote to the York Infantry records office for information about his son John, the Army office wrote back and confirmed that he was attested on the 9th December 1915 and was called up for service on the 9th February 1916. By this time his father had moved to Bilton Barns, Alnmouth, Northumberland. At the end of the war, his father was residing at South Charlton, Alnwick, Northumberland. However, John's Memorial Scroll and Plaque [death penny] was sent to Buckton, Belford, Northumberland.
Information supplied by: Paul McDougall, great-great-nephew
John McDougall is remembered at Belford on B16.01, B16.05 and on B16.07