In 1901, John Scrimgeour was 6 years old and living at 19 Market Street, Perth with his father David (40) who was a Dyer, b. Auchterarder; his mother Mary (39) b. Auchterarder; his brother William (7) b. Perth; and his brother Andrew (4) b. Perth.

John enlisted in St. Martin’s London with the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers and went to France in “Y” Company of the 4th Battalion with the rank of Lance-Corporal on the 9th February 1915. John Scrimgeour was promoted to Corporal shortly after arriving in France and was then promoted to Acting Sergeant on the 7th December 1915.

Extract from war diaries of the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division

“Enemy diversionary attacks around the Ypres Salient: the action of St Eloi craters, 27 March - 16 April 1916.”

“St Eloi lies on the road running south from Ypres in the direction of Messines. The enemy were on slightly higher ground that gave them excellent observation over British trenches and roads. Both sides were actively engaged in mine warfare throughout 1915. The churning by mine explosions and shellfire had created a very difficult terrain for infantry assault - added to which it was still waterlogged from the winter."

“There was no preliminary artillery bombardment. At 4.15 am, to maintain the element of surprise the artillery opened up at exactly the same time when the fall of their first shells coincided with the mines going up. The infantry went in 30 seconds later."

“On the right the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers reached the German wire with the loss of only a single soldier; the 4th Royal Fusiliers were however hit by machine gun fire as they went over the top. As the depleted Royal Fusiliers advanced into the inferno, they quickly became disorientated as the ground had changed so much, and visibility also poor."

“Although it was reported that the objective had been captured, they had in fact not advanced to the main line of the new craters, but only just beyond the shorter distance to the left-hand mine."

“Ground conditions were such that that the Companies holding the new front had to be relieved after short periods, and battalions of the tired 8th and 76th Brigades, had to be used for this purpose, as was the 18th Canadian Battalion.”

John Scrimgeour would have been killed at some stage of this action, on the 27th March 1916. He was 20 years old.

John Scrimgeour is also commemorated on the St. John’s East Parish Church War Memorial, Perth.