Corporal John Baird, M.M.

Corporal John Sword Baird, M.M., 1st Battalion, Canadian Infantry. He was killed in action in France, aged 29, on the 23rd September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. He had been born in Jedburgh and was the son of the late George Baird of Jedburgh and Jane Baird of Barrow-in-Furness. He had served for four years with the Territorial 4th K.O.S.B. before emigrating to Canada where he worked as a book keeper. He enlisted in April 1915 and went to France with the 36th Battalion in June 1915. There he was posted to the 1st Battalion. He was awarded his Military Medal for his actions under heavy shellfire as a dispatch rider in July 1916. He fell in the attack on Courcelette which was captured but with heavy casualties amongst the leading waves of the attack. He is buried in Adanac Military cemetery, Miraumont, Somme, France. The photos show troops on the Somme and the colour image shows a peaceful Somme landscape today.