Son of James and Elsie Ingram, of Waulkmill Cottage, Insch, Aberdeenshire. Brother of James Ingram.

His father was a railway wayman. His parents Elsie Martin d 18/3/1946 age 86. James C Ingram d 3/1/1949 age 83. Both interred Insch Cemetery.

John Martin Ingram and his sister Bella Simpson Ingram were baptised at Slack 26/6/1898.
Father - railway wayman in baptism record

Pte 6 GH, Old Toll. He was born at Leslie and enlisted at Insch, killed in action, served France & Flanders.

PRO, War & Victory Medals, previously 12195, Pte, GH

KIA with BEF- Army Returns

John Ingram did not proceed to France in Nov 1914, he joined up later.

On the day of his death 6GH were involved in an attack over the River Steenbeeke at Pilkem Ridge during the opening of 3rd Ypres. This action, 3 miles NE of Ypres began at 3.50am and was their first time in the trenches of the Ypres Salient and became known as The Battle of Pilkem Ridge.

6GH Battalion War Diary entry, July 1917
11-23 - LEDERZEELE - In Billets training for the attack.
23-19 - St JANSTER BIEZEN - In Camp - Huts and Canvas.
30-31 - In the Line.
Battalion moved off at 7.30pm on the 30th to Assembly Position preparatory to the attack. The Battalion was distributed as follows : To Front Line---- "A" & "D" Companies. To Hardy's Trench----"C" Company and "B" Company ( less one Platoon). To "X" Line----One Platoon of "B" Company.
The night was quiet, and no difficulties were experienced from enemy shelling. All Companies had been reported in position by 1.30am.

Shortly before ZERO Hour (3.50am) the enemy shelled the Front Line and ground in rear of it, but not heavily. A few casualties were sustained by Companies in the Front Line.
From 4.10am onwards, our Front Line was heavily shelled, and the trench was very much knocked about, but Companies moved into No Man's Land, and thus avoided loss.
At 4.20am "A" & "D" Companies moved forward in three waves as per programme, and passed through the BLUE LINE ( already captured by 1/5th SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS)
At 4.20am two platoons of "B" Company detailed for VON WERDER'S HOUSE and ADAM'S FARM moved from HARDY'S TRENCH, and overtook "A" & "D" Companies on the BLUE LINE.

The whole moved forward under the barrage at 5.13am and parties detailed for ASCOT COTTAGE, GATWICK HOUSE, NEWSON'S HOUSE and MINTY'S FARM occupied these points without resistance.
A Machine Gun in action between ASCOT COTTAGE and the BLACK LINE was dealt with by means of Rifle Grenades. About twelve of the enemy were killed or captured here.

The BLACK LINE was reached by "D" Company at 5.25am close under the barrage. At this time the BLACK LINE was on the left of the Battalion Front had not been occupied. The Platoon of "D" Company was therefor pushed to the left to get touch with the 1/6th SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS. This Platoon captured a Machine Gun in this part of the BLACK LINE. Machine Guns were also active from MACDONALD'S WOOD, and effective fire was directed on these by this Platoon. These Machine Guns were finally destroyed by a Tank.

The two Platoons of "A" Company detailed for HURST WOOD, BUCHCASTEL and KITCHENER'S HOUSE, passed through the BLACK LINE immediately it had been captured, and reached their objectives under the barrage.

Of the Platoons of "B" Company detailed for ADAM'S FARM, half platoon pushed forward beyond KITCHENER'S WOOD and reached ADAM'S FARM. A hostile Machine Gun in action 200 yards in advance of this point was dealt with successfully. One and a half platoons pushed on to HURST WOOD, and assisted in dealing with the two Machine Guns which were active at the North edge of the wood.

Two officers and 30 men were captured at this point. Subsequently one section pushed on to VON WERDER'S HOUSE - the remainder lost direction, and pushing out to the left, reached the neighbourhood of FRANCOIS FARM - two hostile Machine Guns which were in action here were dealt with by this party, and one officer and 50 men were captured. The loss of direction was then discovered, and they proceeded to VON WERDER'S HOUSE, where they consolidated.

"C" Company ( GREEN LINE Company) left HARDY'S TRENCH at ZERO plus 1 hour, and filing up BOAR LANE, assembled in the Front Line Trenches. Then it pushed forward to a point between the BLUE and BLACK Lines. As touch had not been obtained with Battalion on the right (16th R.B.) the officer commanding the company pushed the right flank out as far as RACECOURSE FARM.. A Machine Gun still active between that point and KITCHENER'S WOOD was dealt with by this company. The advance was then continued to a position 500 yards in front of the BLACK LINE where the Company was re-organised preparatory to moving forward to the GREEN LINE under the barrage. At 7.30am the advance was continued and the GREEN LINE was reached at 7.50am.

Consolidation was commenced about 250 yards South West of STEENBECK under observation by hostile aeroplanes. These presently retired, and the front line was moved forward about 100 yards, and the support line withdrawn an equal distance. This move was successful, as the enemy shelled the original position taken up, but failed to locate the new position.

Battalion Headquarters moved from the British Front Line to near KEMPTON PARK at 6.45am. The intention was to move thence to the BLACK LINE (MINTY'S HOUSE) as soon as possible, but hostile shelling did not admit of a telephone line being laid and maintained, until 12.30pm. Asc ommunication from the front was fairly satisfactory, Headquarters were not moved forward till that time.

Details from 6GH in France & Flanders.
Pte George McIntosh, 6 GH, of Buckie was awarded The Victoria Cross on the same day.

Citation for VC
On 31 July 1917 at Ypres, Belgium, during the consolidation of a position, the company came under machine-gun fire at close range and Private Mclntosh immediately rushed forward under heavy fire and reaching the emplacement, threw a Mills grenade into it, killing two of the enemy and wounding a third. Subsequently entering the dug-out he found two light machine-guns which he carried back with him. His quick grasp of the situation and the rapidity with which he acted undoubtedly saved many of his comrades and enabled the consolidation to proceed unhindered by machine-gun fire.

1/4/1908 The original Volunteer Battalions was reorganised and the 4th became the 6th Batt ( Territorial Force) comprising 8 companies centred in the following areas;
'A' Coy - Banff
'B' Coy - Dufftown, Aberlour and Glenlivet
'C' Coy - Keith
'D' Coy - Buckie
'E' Coy - Inverurie
'F' Coy - Alford, Kildrummy and Strathdon
'G' Coy - Buckie
'H' Coy - Huntly

During 1914 the 8 Company system of the entire British army was changed to 4, usually 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D'
'H' Company became part of the new 'A' Company. This became the official designation in 1915. This did not prevent the men using the original lettering which related to their home areas.

Service notes
1/6th Gordons, 1/6th (6th) Banff and Donside Battalion Gordon Highlanders.

4/8/1914 at Keith: Gordon Brigade, Highland Division.
16/8/1914 arrived Bedford, part of Highland Territorial Brigade
9/11/1914 left Bedford by train to Southhampton, there boarded troopship " Cornishman" for France.
10/11/1914 Landed Havre ( Le Havre)
13/11/1914 Left Le Havre, travelled to St Omer, 4/12/1914 at Sailly.
5/12/1914 to 20th Brigade, 7th Division.
Was the 1st Btn of Highland Division to reach the Front.
6/12/1914 In trenches
5/1/1916 became Line of Communication Troops.
1/6/1916 to 152nd Brigade, 51st Highland Division.
6/10/1918 ammalgamated with 1/7th (Deeside) Gordons to form 6/7th Gordons
11/11/1918 in same near Thun l'Eveque, North of Cambrai.