Pvt. John Clinton #639898 was born Feb 3, 1898 in Glasgow Scotland where he listed his sister Catherine Clinton of South Mountain, ON as his next of kin. He boarded the Scotian on Mar 31, 1913 in Glasgow and sailed to Halifax at the age of 15. He then proceeded to make his way to Merrickville as a farm labourer for five years. Pvt. Clinton enlisted on March 17, 1916 in Merrickville at the age of 18 and was assigned to the 156th battalion and was sworn in by Justice RW Watchorn. He was 5’3, 33” chest, 120 lbs., single, gray eyes and brown hair and had a scar on his left shoulder. He listed his occupation as a farmer, and his religion as Presbyterian. He had previously served with the Boys Brigade of Glasgow.
His pay was sent to his sister, Miss Catherine Clinton of Appleton, ON who also received his medals and decorations. His brother, Peter, of 853 Argyle St. Glasgow, Scotland received his plaque and scroll.
Pvt Clinton trained with the 156th battalion in Canada starting in March where he got docked pay twice. On Oct. 18, 1916, Pvt Clinton sailed from Halifax on the SS Metagama and on Nov. 1, 1916, he arrived in Liverpool, England with the 156th and joined the 120th battalion. On Jan. 9, 1917, he was taken on strength back to the 156th battalion. On May 23, 1917, Pvt. Clinton joined the 2nd battalion and left for France. He was with Pvt. Bush this entire time. The 2nd Battalion was near the village of Loos and were in the front line trenches from July 22 to July 30. During this time, heavy artillery were fired almost continually by both sides with lots of machine gun fire and trench mortars being thrown. On July 26, a small German attack was made but stopped by the patrol on duty at the time. It was during this time of intense bombardment that Pvt. Clinton was injured and removed from the trenches. Pvt. Clinton was wounded on July 28, 1917 and taken to the 7th Casualty Clearing Hospital. He was listed as dangerously ill on August 1 and then recovered on August 8 and sent to Queen Mary Hospital in Whalley on August 27. He became dangerously ill again on Sept 3, 1917 due to his wounds.
Pvt John Clinton died on Sept 6, 1917 while with the 2nd battalion at the Queen Mary’s Military Hospital in Whalley, England due to gunshot wounds to the head, shoulder and chest. He was buried in the Whalley Military Cemetery with grave reference 290.During the First World War, the 2,000 bed Queen Mary's Military Hospital was housed in the County Asylum at Whalley, remaining there until June 1920. The Military Cemetery associated with the hospital is at the eastern end of the Mental Hospital Cemetery and was handed over to the War Department in February 1916. The cemetery has a Cross of Sacrifice and there is also a memorial to all the servicemen, nearly 300 of them, who died in the Hospital. The Military Cemetery contains 33 First World War burials and nine from the Second World War. He is commemorated on page 217 of the Book of Remembrance.
His pay was sent to his sister, Miss Catherine Clinton of Appleton, ON who also received his medals and decorations. His brother, Peter, of 853 Argyle St. Glasgow, Scotland received his plaque and scroll.
Pvt Clinton trained with the 156th battalion in Canada starting in March where he got docked pay twice. On Oct. 18, 1916, Pvt Clinton sailed from Halifax on the SS Metagama and on Nov. 1, 1916, he arrived in Liverpool, England with the 156th and joined the 120th battalion. On Jan. 9, 1917, he was taken on strength back to the 156th battalion. On May 23, 1917, Pvt. Clinton joined the 2nd battalion and left for France. He was with Pvt. Bush this entire time. The 2nd Battalion was near the village of Loos and were in the front line trenches from July 22 to July 30. During this time, heavy artillery were fired almost continually by both sides with lots of machine gun fire and trench mortars being thrown. On July 26, a small German attack was made but stopped by the patrol on duty at the time. It was during this time of intense bombardment that Pvt. Clinton was injured and removed from the trenches. Pvt. Clinton was wounded on July 28, 1917 and taken to the 7th Casualty Clearing Hospital. He was listed as dangerously ill on August 1 and then recovered on August 8 and sent to Queen Mary Hospital in Whalley on August 27. He became dangerously ill again on Sept 3, 1917 due to his wounds.
Pvt John Clinton died on Sept 6, 1917 while with the 2nd battalion at the Queen Mary’s Military Hospital in Whalley, England due to gunshot wounds to the head, shoulder and chest. He was buried in the Whalley Military Cemetery with grave reference 290.During the First World War, the 2,000 bed Queen Mary's Military Hospital was housed in the County Asylum at Whalley, remaining there until June 1920. The Military Cemetery associated with the hospital is at the eastern end of the Mental Hospital Cemetery and was handed over to the War Department in February 1916. The cemetery has a Cross of Sacrifice and there is also a memorial to all the servicemen, nearly 300 of them, who died in the Hospital. The Military Cemetery contains 33 First World War burials and nine from the Second World War. He is commemorated on page 217 of the Book of Remembrance.