Private
John Blue
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About John

  • Name
    John
  • Initials
    J
  • Surname
    Blue
  • Date of Birth
    1882
  • Birth town
    Saddel, Skipness, Argyllshire
  • Resided town
    Skipness, Argyllshire
  • Commemorated
  • Nationality
    Scottish
  • Place of death
  • Date of death
  • Married
  • Occupation
    Foreman Gardener

Service Information

  • Army

  • Service Number
    5796/263056/205796
  • Rank
    Private
  • Regiment
    Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Biography

John Blue was born in 1882, at Saddel, Skipness, Argyllshire.  We have not been able to trace his parents.  In 1891 John, aged 9, is living at Auchnastronne, Skipness, Argyllshire with three uncles Malcolm Cook (46), John Cook (48) and Alex Cook (40), all fishermen and his aunt Sarah Cook (37), housekeeper; all unmarried.  In 1901 John is still living with his uncles John and Alex and aunt Marion at High Clonaig, Skipness.  John is listed as a gardener (domestic).

John enlisted at Ayr on 26 February 1916, giving his address as Skipness, Kintyre, Argyllshire and his uncle John Cook as his next of kin.  He was 5’11” tall, weighed 136lbs with a 36” chest.  John gave his occupation as foreman gardener working for Lady McEacharn, Galloway House, Garlieston, Wigtownshire.  In 1908, Galloway House Estate was bought by Sir Malcolm McEacharn, who made his fortune by pioneering the shipping of frozen beef from Australia to Great Britain. He was also the Lord Mayor of Melbourne. His son, Captain Neil McEacharn, was responsible for much exotic planting and he also created the famous gardens at Villa Taranto on Lake Maggiore in Italy, which were influenced by the layout at Galloway House. http://bit.ly/2oOsPmk

John was mobilised on 18 July 1916, joining the 2/7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.  He passed through Peterborough East Station on 21 March 1917 and wrote in the visitors’ book “Many thanks to the two kind ladies for their kindness during my short visit to the rest room at Peterborough”.

John transferred to the 1/6th Gordon Highlanders on 23 June 1917, and served in France from 11 June 1917 to April 1918.  He was admitted to hospital on several occasions with trench fever between December 1917 and March 1918.  He suffered from shell gas poisoning on 28 April 1918 and was admitted to hospital in Calais.  He returned to the UK on 10 May 1918 and was a patient at Bevan Military Hospital, Sandgate, Kent until 24 June 1918.  He was transferred to Shorncliff Military Hospital until 3 July 1918 and then spent a period of convalescence at Eastbourne Convalescent Hospital until 13 August 1918, after which he had a period of furlough.

On joining the service, he was diagnosed with a slight cardiac murmur and tachycardia.  This was aggravated by gas poisoning and had an effect on his heart leaving him with shortness of breath, which was considered a 15% disablement.  In September 1918, he was transferred to the Labour Corps and attached to R Company Royal Army Service Corps.  He was demobilised and transferred to Reserve on 1 June 1919.  He was awarded the British War and Allied Victory Medals.

We have been unable to trace a marriage or date of death for John.

Could John be related to you?  Please get in touch if you can tell us more.

Campaign Medals

The Allied Victory Medal
The British War Medal, 1914-18

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