Private John Bookless

Private John Bookless, 9th (Service) Battalion, Cameronians. He died in France, aged 24 in the 53rd General Hospital, Boulogne the 1st November 1918 during the “Advance to Victory”. He had been born in Swinton, Berwickshire and was the son of John and Mary Bookless of Swinton and the husband of Margaret Bookless of 2 Hill Street, Galashiels. He is buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France. Before enlisting he had worked with his father as a rabbit catcher. He had originally enlisted in the 2nd/4th K.O.S.B. but was posted to the Cameronians in France. He had been wounded in action but contracted meningitis and died in hospital. ( His brother William also fell and he is commemorated on the Swinton War Memorial ). The photos show Allied troops advancing after the retreating German Army during the final 100 days of the War.