John B Reid (1891 - 1916)

John Bernard Reid was born at Fortrose, Inverness, in 1891. He was the son of a soldier serving in the 78th Regiment (which was based at nearby Fort George).

I have not yet discovered the nature of John Reid's connection with Astley Abbotts. According to the Commonwealth Graves Commission he was married to Daisy Brennan Reid who lived in Edinburgh.

John Reid served with the 6th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry, going to France with the battalion in July, 1915. He died of wounds on 9th July, 1916. He is buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery so he probably died at one of the hospitals there. It is not known when Sergeant Reid was wounded: the war diary shows that on 9th July the battalion had just returned to the trenches at Ypres after a week out - during which time no casulaties were recorded. Prior to this it had carried out raids on enemy trenches on the night of 29/30th June and made a gas attack on 1st July - both of which resulted in casualties. On 9th July the diary records: "Enemy quiet. 1 Sgt & one O[ther] R[ank] wounded." This is the only record of a sergeant falling casualty at this time and may refer to CSM Reid.

Company Sergeant Major John Bernard Reid, WO2, 13216, was awarded the Victory and British medals and the 1915 Star.