WW1 1914/15 Star Trio to Bilsborough Seaforth Highlanders KIA.

If there is a testimony of how brave and resilient this generation was, it is this trio.
It comprises of 1914/15 Star, British war and victory medal all correctly named to S/3535 Private John Bilsborough of the 6th (Morayshire) battalion the Duke of Albany’s (Ross-shire Buffs) the Seaforth Highlanders.
John Thomas Bilsborough was born in Lancaster Lancashire 1896. When war broke out, he joined up and was put in the Seaforth’s.at this time they formed part of the Seaforth and Cameron Brigade, Highland Division and in August 1914, they had just departed for annual camp and were at once recalled to home base, they mobilised for full time war service on the 5th of August 1914 and the Division concentrated at Bedford. They sailed to France on the 2nd of May 1915. Although John’s medal index card states a date of 9th July 1915 when he entered the war.
Once in France the division was renamed and he was now serving with the 152nd Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division. He would have joined the battalion somewhere near Hamel.
In 1916 thew 6th battalion were in action in the Battles of the Somme, including the attacks on High Wood and The Battle of the Ancre, capturing Beaumont Hamel, taking more than 2000 prisoners. In 1917 They took part in the Arras Offensive, The Battle of Pilkem Ridge, The Battle of Menin Road Ridge and the Cambrai Operations. During this time John was wounded in action three times including a gunshot wound to the leg in April 1917. But every time he was sent back to the line.
They remained in the Cambrai area until the 21st of March 1918, when the enemy launched an overwhelming attack in their spring offensive and the Division were engaged in a fighting withdrawal back to Bapaume, just south of Arras. Very sadly John Bilsborough was killed or died of his wounds on the 22nd March 1918. He is now remembered with honour at the Arras Memorial; he was 21 years old.
His medals are in excellent original condition, and they come with various copied research including an extract from the Lancaster Guardian from April 1918, this has a picture of John and a very nice obituary. Also, commonwealth war graves certificate, medal index card and medal roll, census details and other service information.

Code: 29994