Sanderson, John Nicoll 300057 (1886 - 1918)

Gunner, 1st/1st (Bute) Mountain Bty. Ammunition Col. Royal Garrison Artillery

Buried at Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery

Commemorated at Hillhead High School

Gunner J. N. Sanderson was the elder son of the late Mr. John Sanderson, outfitter, Union Street and Sauchiehall Street, and Mrs. Sanderson, 22 Ancaster Drive, Glasgow. Those who knew him at School will recall the singular charm of his personality. There was a cheery optimism about him of the best kind, and for him the wheels of School life always ran smooth.

On leaving School he entered his father's business, which he carried on after the latter's death. As soon as he was able to make arrangements for the management in his absence he joined the Bute Mountain Battery, and proceeded to Salonica in September, 1916. The Macedonian campaign was one of the " side shows " regarding whose utility there was much diversity of opinion. In the end it proved a glorious success, for there was struck the first hammer blow in the downfall or the Huns. There is no doubt, however, that our soldiers there felt that their hardships and privations were but scantily recognised at home, and there was no little bitterness in consequence.
Here John Sanderson's cheery disposition was put to an acid test, and by the evidence of all his comrades it came triumphantly through.

He took part in the final offensive against the Bulgarian Army and came through safely. Unhappily he fell a victim to the wide-world scourge of influenza, and pneumonia supervening, he passed away at the base hospital at Salonica on the 17th October, 1918. One of his comrades who had endured with him all the vicissitudes of a two years' campaign in billet and bivouac, writes- "I have to mourn the loss of one of the best of pals and the most unselfish and uncomplaining of comrades."

The sincere sympathy of the School goes out to his widowed mother and relatives.