Private John Lyall, 2nd Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Belgium on 23rd April 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres and is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. He had been born in Berwick and had enlisted as a Regular soldier at the Depot in the Town. He fell in the attempt by the Battalion to support a Canadian counter attack towards ” Mauser Ridge ” But with no proper reconnaissance, plan or artillery support it was a hopeless task. Heavy casualties of 8 Officers and 240 Other Ranks were suffered for no gain. The photo shows the troops trying on their rudimentary gas masks. The Germans had begun to use poison gas on the Western Front on the 22nd April.
Private John Lyall
- First World War
