Carpenter, John Neilson (1895 - 1916)

Second Lieutenant, 17th Bn. Highland Light Infantry

Buried at Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated at City of Glasgow Roll of Honour at Glasgow City Chambers

John Neilson Carpenter, the younger son of the late Mr Thomas F Carpenter and Mrs Carpenter, 36 Falkland Mansions, Hyndland, was born in 1894. He was educated at Hillhead High School, Glasgow Academy and Glasgow University. His outstanding ability in Mathematics and Science pointed to engineering as a suitable sphere of activity, and he became indentured with Messrs Yarrow & Co, Scotstoun.

In August 1914, he, along with so many of his companions and schoolmates, joined the Chamber of Commerce Battalion as a Private. There he soon distinguished himself, and had the honour of being awarded a commission in his own battalion. With them he proceeded to France in November 1915. On the 23rd April 1916, his company carried out a singularly successful raid upon the German trenches, taking back with them many prisoners and several machine guns.

For conspicuous gallantry in this raid and for showing great dash in hand-to-hand fighting, Lieutenant Carpenter was awarded the Military Cross (MC).

Lieutenant Carpenter was killed in action on the 1st July 1916, in an attack upon the Leipzig Redoubt. Lieutenant Carpenter, strong, athletic, fearless, was not only an excellent soldier, but looked the part. His men were all deeply attached to him, and greatly mourned his death.

Reproduced with permission from the University of Glasgow Roll of Honour: http://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/ww1-intro/