Private John Haggart

Private John Scott Haggart, 9th ( Service ) Battalion, Black Watch. He was killed in France, aged 22, on 25th September 1915 on the first day of the Battle of Loos. He had been born in Corsock Bridge, Kirkcudbrightshire and was the son of James and Jane of Stitchill  and Moss Side, Kirkcudbright and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Dud Corner, Loos, France.  ( The family moved to Stitchill in May 1918 ).Before enlisting he had been employed as a gardener in Killin, Perthshire and was a pre War territorial with the 8th Royal Scots. He is listed in the casualty returns for the 9th Battalion, Black Watch so he must have been  transferred to that Battalion sometime before the Battle and it was with them that he fell in the attack and capture of the Lens Road Redoubt which cost the Battalion dear with 7 Officers and over 200 other Ranks killed. The first photo shows Scottish troops marching up to the line at Loos and the second shows an actual assault with the troops disappearing into the clouds of gas and smoke. This was the first time the British Army had used gas in the War. The second photo shows the village of Loos after capture.

Scroll to Top