In Memory of JOHN BUCHAN Private 679 2nd Bn

In Memory of

JOHN BUCHAN

Private
679
2nd Bn., Gordon Highlanders
who died on
Monday 17th May 1915. Age 29.

Citation:
Additional Information:	Son of Alexander and Elsie Buchan, of 10, Moor Balvack, Monymusk, Aberdeen.
Commemorative Information -
Cemetery:	BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France
Grave Reference/Panel Number:	III. D. 47.
Location:	Bethune is 29 kilometres north of Arras. From the town centre of Bethune, turn right in front of the Tribunal and second right at the bottom of the road down to the cul-de-sac where the cemetery will be found. -
Historical Information:	For much of the First World War, Bethune was comparatively free from bombardment and remained an important railway and hospital centre, as well as a corps and divisional headquarters. The 33rd Casualty Clearing Station was in the town until December 1917. Early in 1918, Bethune began to suffer from constant shell fire and in April 1918, German forces reached Locon, five kilometres to the north. The bombardment of 21 May did great damage to the town and it was not till October that pressure from the Germans was relaxed. Bethune Town Cemetery contains 3,004 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, including 26 men of the 1/8th Manchester Regiment who were killed by a bomb on 22 December 1917 while marching to rest billets. Second World War burials number 19. There are also 122 French and 87 German war graves. The Commonwealth section of the cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.