More about John McLellan Cairns

John is not listed on the original Dundee Roll of Honour but is remembered on the Lodge Ancient No49, Dundee, Roll of Honour. He was the brother of Pte Robert Cairns, S/40551, 4/5th Battalion Black Watch, who was taken prisoner 23.03.1018 at St Quentin and died 25.07.1918.

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John Cairns was the son of Mr William and Mrs Margaret Cairns of 19 Birnie Street, Lochgelly, Fife and was employed as a Miner. His Dundee connection is through the Masons Lodge Ancient 49 because his name is on their Memorial. He was raised on 4 November 1911 and received his Mark the same day. He volunteered for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in January 1915 for service in the Royal Naval Division. After initial training at the Crystal Palace in South London he was sent to Blandford Camp in Dorset. Here, he was advanced from Ordinary Seaman to Leading Seaman in June 1915 and then to Petty Officer in July 1915. and, in August 1915, he joined the Drake Battalion in Gallipoli. To be advanced so quickly meant that he had exceptional leadership skills! In October 1915 he was hospitalised on the island of Lemnos with jaundice and rejoined his Battalion in December. During his recuperation period he qualified as a Grenade specialist. The Drake Battalion sailed for France in May 1916 and trained for fighting on the Western Front. In November 1916 John Cairns was killed in action during the final days of the Somme campaign. One of the first day’s objectives of the British attack on 1 July 1916 was the capture of the village of Beaucourt, just to the west of the River Ancre. It was finally taken on 14 November by the men of the 63rd Royal Naval Division. This was the first major operation by the RND in France and established a reputation for being a “Can Do” Division. However, the casualty list was very high and over 30 local men were killed and countless more wounded. John Cairns body was not recovered and his name is on the Thiepval Memorial, Northern France.

Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie