Private John BANKS (266266)
1/6th Battalion Gordon Highlanders

Date of birth: 24th October 1887
Date of death: 9th April 1917

Died of wounds aged 29
Buried at Highland Cemetery Roclincourt Plot I Row A Grave 46
John Banks was born at 10 Marshall Street, Edinburgh on the 24th of October 1887 the son of John Banks, a farmer, and Jessie Oman (nee Brims) Banks of Auckingill, Canisbay in Caithness. He lived for a time in Morayshire.

He worked as a farm worker before enlisting in in the Gordon Highlanders at their Headquarters at Keith in May 1915.

The 9th of April 1917 was the opening day of the Battle of Arras and the weather was cold with snow showers, the assault trenches being knee deep in water in some places as the Gordons formed up for their attack. The battalion was formed up in three double waves each of five platoons with their objective being to capture the first three lines of enemy trenches, an advance of some 500 yards. At the first line the Germans fought stubbornly but their losses were heavy and 20 casualties were caused when a store of German trench mortar shells exploded. A captured German prisoner related that the third line trench was unoccupied but the support battalions which were detailed to take it were held up short of their objective by heavy fire. John Banks was wounded during this attack and died later that day.

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