Brunton, John

Private John Brunton.

Gordon Highlanders.

1918 - October 29.

PRIVATE JOHN BRUNTON, who resided with his wife at Northgate, Peebles, before enlisting in the Gordon Highlanders, survived his military service to fall a victim, after returning to civil life, to the, epidemic of septic pneumonia, which visited Peebles in the autumn of 1918, and as a result of which he died at his home on 29th October of that year. He enlisted under the Derby Scheme, and served for a term of six months in France, where he contracted a kidney disease, as a result of which he was discharged from the service in September 1917. He was a mason to trade, and also followed the occupation of rabbit-trapper, his activities in connection with which he carried out on the Haystoun Estate. He was survived by his widow and a son.

My Soul, there is a countrie

Afar beyond the stars,

Where stands a winged sentrie

All skilful in the wars.

There, above noise and danger,

Sweet Peace sits crowned with smiles,

And One born in manger

Commands the beauteous files.

He is thy gracious Friend

And (O, my Soul, awake)!

Did in pure love descend,

To die here for thy sake.

If thou canst get but thither,

There grows the flower of peace,

The rose that cannot wither,

Thy fortress, and thy ease.

Leave then thy foolish ranges;

For none can thee secure,

But One, who never changes,

Thy God, thy Life, thy Cure.

Source: The Book of Remembrance for Tweeddale – Peebles Book 2 - Pages 274 and 275

From the Gordon Highlanders Archives

Private John Brunton (s/14769)

Judging by his service number he would have enlisted into the Gordon Highlanders, or more likely been conscripted, around April/May 1916. The prefix "s" denotes a wartime enlistment into the regiment apart from Territorial battalions. We know that he carried out his basic training of about twelve weeks with the 11th (Reserve) Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, which was then stationed at Cambusbarron near Falkirk although it subsequently moved to Bridge of Allan. He would have been retained with the battalion (known as "waiting men") until sent as part of a replacement draft to one of the regular or new army battalions of the regiment which were then serving in France or Belgium.

We definitely know that he served in a theatre of war overseas as otherwise he would not have been entitled to his British War Medal and Victory Medal as confirmed by his medal index card with the National Archives. Although we don't know the exact date that he went abroad it would have likely been shortly after 1st July 1916 when the Somme battles commenced and certainly before November of that year. On balance I think it certain that he did serve on the Somme and subsequently on the Western Front in general.

Name: BRUNTON, John

Initials: J

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Gordon Highlanders

Unit Text: 1st Bn.

Age: 41

Date of Death: 29/10/1918

Service No: S/14769

Additional information: Husband of Frances Mary Brunton, of 58, Northgate, Peebles.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 1644.

Cemetery: PEEBLES CEMETERY