Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
John William was the son of James (from Scotland) and Catherine (nee Bruce) known as Kate. He was born at Barnard Castle in 1890. His sisters were Theresa, Janet and Catherine.
In 1891 Catherine’s parents, Isaac and Bridget Bruce along with her brother, James were living with the family. The family lived in a cottage near the Desmesnes.
By 1901 Father, John, was deceased. Kate was still living with her mother. To make ends meet Kate is working as a backer flax mill worker. Another daughter, Catherine was born in 1892.
In 1911 there are only three family members living together. Mother and daughter both named Kate are working as shoe thread flax winders whilst John is a grocer’s assistant. There is a record of a J. McCheyne being skilled as a snooker player.
For some years it appears he was a resident of Glasgow.
John enlisted at Manchester.
Although the actual date of his death is uncertain it was between 3 -5th July 1916. The following information is from the war diary of the 03/07/1916 of the 8th Battalion War Diary July 1916 which gives an indication where John was fighting :- “The first two waves went out punctually at the appointed hour, the other two companys were held in the front line till it was seen how things were going and till reinforcements were requested. A message was sent back asking for reinforcements and bombs and these were sent up immediately. [D ?] platoon at this time were sent up, no reinforcements had arrived from the reserve to take our place. Eventually all reinforcements were sent except a platoon with 2 Lewis guns. The last reserve of 2 platoons did not reach the enemy line but returned with the Battalion when it retired. The frontage occupied in the German line was about 180 yards which had been much damaged by our shell fire and there was very little cover. The right flank giving way was the cause of the battalion falling back and also the unfortunate word "retire" undoubtedly passed along from the right. Major Birt ordered the left to conform.
Orders and messages referring to the operations took a very long time to reach Battalion HQ owing to the dark and the orderlies being near to the trenches. There was no telephone to Battalion HQ and all messages were by runners. This delayed instructions to OC Companys and did not give them time to arrange bombing parties, etc. for clearing the German communication trenches. The German rifle and machine gun fire was not particularly severe and had communication with the right and left been kept up throughout the attack would have been successful.
During the operation we suffered the following casualties: 4 officers killed and 10 wounded, 430 casualties other ranks. “
John is listed on Thiepval memorial alongside nearly 72,000 of his comrades.
John William McCheyne is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.25
