More about John Blyth

John has no known grave but is remembered on the Helles Memorial.

John Blyth   CZ/297   Collingwood Bn   Royal Naval Division

BLYTH―A.B. John Blyth, Clyde (Z/297) R.N.V.R. Collingwood Battalion, 2d R.N. Brigade R.N.D.  Reported missing on 18th June, 1915, now reported missing on 4th June, and since dead.

Dundee Courier 30th September 1915

Son of Alexander and Elizabeth Falconer Blyth, of 6 Cleghorn Street, Dundee, Forfarshire. In civil life he was an apprentice fitter and at the time of his enlistment he was living with his parents.

R.N.D. Database

John Blyth was one of the first Dundee men to join the RNVR for service in the Royal Naval Division. He was the son of Mr Alexander and Mrs Elizabeth Falconer Blyth of 6 Cleghorn Street, Dundee and was an Apprentice Fitter before volunteering. After basic training at the Crystal Palace in South London he went to Blandford Camp in Dorset for advanced infantry training. On completion he was drafted to the Collingwood Battalion serving in B Company, 1st Platoon. He was rated as AB Higher Grade in May 1915. Collingwood Battalion landed in Gallipoli in late May 1915 and took part in the Third Battle of Krithia on 4 June 1915. This was their first and last action because, as they advanced towards the enemy line, they were caught in heavy Turkish artillery and machinegun fire. The number of dead and wounded was very high and the Battalion was disbanded two days later. The survivors were distributed to the other RND battalions to replace their losses. John Blyth was first reported as missing but, in October 1915, this was changed to killed in action on 4 June 1915. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey.

Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie