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Gillespie, John (J)

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Identity
Person No.
8191
Service No.
16141
Last Name
First Name
John
Initials
J
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
34
Military Service
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause of Death
Killed in action, while serving his guns near Meteren, west of Bailleul
Grave Reference
Additional Information
Notes

Husband of Mary Gillespie, of 60, Watson St., Aberdeen. Son of James Gillespie, cardmaker; born Stoneywood, Aberdeenshire, 17 February 1884; educated at Newhills School (where he became a pupil-teacher) and the Normal College ; matriculated in 1902 and graduated M.A., 1905. Teaching was his bent, and he proved himself a teacher of the best type, with high ideals of his profession. For some eight years he was second master at Cults Public School, then filled a post at the Training Institute, Morija, Basutoland, and later was Mathematical Master at the Boys' High School, Rondebosch, Cape Town. Gillespie was a true pacifist, so sincere in his devotion to peace that he felt he must fight for her sake. In June 1916 he enlisted in the South African Scottish and came home to complete his training. After some months in England he crossed to France in April 1917, and saw some keen fighting with a Trench Mortar Battery in the 9th Division, of which the South Africans formed a part. His C.O. wrote : "For the short time he served in the Battery he made many friends, and his loss will be deeply felt by all, not only as a friend but also as an excellent soldier". He was killed in action while serving his guns near Meteren, west of Bailleul, 12 July 1918, having seen only three months of active service. Commemoration stone in Aberdeen (St. Peter's) Cemetery

Citation
Unknown
External Source
Unknown
South African War Graves Project

southafricawargraves.org — record #8191