In 1901 the Gow family were living at 43 York Place, Perth: Mother, Agnes (42); Son, Peter (15); Son, John (12)Daughter, Grace (11); and Agnes Gow’s father, John Halley (Retired Warder) (80). John Halley Gow was born in Perth to William (Auctioneer and Valuer), and Agnes Gow.

He was educated at Sharp’s Institution, being the school’s Dux Medallist in 1904, and afterwards went to Glasgow University.

John Gow enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment (Reg. No. G/1860), arriving in France on 25th July 1915, and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was promoted to 2nd Lieut. on 23rd April 1916. Extracts from The Die-Hards in the Great War, History of the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, 1914-1919 by Everard Wyrall “Battle of Bazentin Ridge, 15th July 1916:

“At 3 a.m. the Brigade was again ordered to attack, and the 1st Middlesex set out at about 6.30 a.m. for Bazentin-le-Petit, from which village the assault of the enemy’s position was to be made.

"The advance was made through a gas cloud, which made everyone feel most uncomfortable, though apparently none of the troops were actually ‘gassed.’

"The Battalion attacked on a frontage of 800 yards...The first objective allotted to the Battalion was the German Switch Trench...The Battalion had scarcely deployed for action when a party of the enemy in the northern corner of Bazentin-le-Petit Wood fired into the left flank of the advancing Middlesex men, with machine-gun and rifle...Shelled unmercifully and machine-gunned from both flanks, the gallant Middlesex, attempting to ‘dig in’ on the position gained, were eventually compelled to fall back to the road running north and south on the eastern outskirts of Bazentin-le-Petit.

“The day’s fighting had cost the 1st Battalion many brave lives. Of the officers, 6 had been killed and 7 wounded: in the other ranks the losses were 44 killed, 201 wounded, and 63 missing.”

Although not mentioned by name, John Gow would have been one of the officers killed. He was 28 years old. People’s Journal, 20th July 1916:

“Second Lieutenant John Halley Gow, Middlesex Regiment (Perth), who was killed in action on 16th July. At the outbreak of war he represented Messrs Low & Bonar, Ltd., Dundee, in their London office. He had been at the front for a year, and only recently was commended by his Regimental and Divisional Commanders for gallant conduct and devotion to duty on the field.”

Perthshire Advertiser, 22nd July 1916:

“THE PRICE OF VICTORY - PERTH OFFICERS AND MEN - WOUNDED AND FALLEN

“Intimation has just been received in Perth that Second Lieutenant John Halley Gow, of the Middlesex Regiment, has died in action. The deceased officer was the son of the late Mr William Gow, valuator, and only received his commission a short time ago. When acting as sergeant his regimental commander and brigade commander made special reference to his gallant conduct on the field.”

John Halley Gow is also commemorated on the Perth Middle United Free Church War Memorial; and the Jeanfield District War Memorial, Perth.