Private John Burn

Private John Burn, 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards. He was killed in action on 26th March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive, aged 21. He was the son of John and Jessie Burn of Beanburn Cottage, Ayton and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France. He had enlisted in October 1914 and had already been wounded twice. The first wound was in the right forearm whilst he was with the 1st Battalion and the second was in the left shoulder at the Battle of Pilckem Ridge on 3ist July 1917 when he was with the 2nd Battalion.  Before the War he had been employed by the late Mr Sinclair of Ayton as a grocers assistant. On the 26th March the Battalion were holding trenches in the Boyelles sector and were forced to retire in the face of a strong German advance from Henin Ridge to avoid being flanked. The photos show Allied troops preparing to resist the German advances.