Corporal John Buchanan (deceased)

John (Jack) Buchanan was born in Campsie Glen, Stirlingshire on 24th February 1896, the fourth child of the family with two elder brothers and a sister. His eldest brother was killed in the Great War. He joined the Army as an infantryman at Wareham in 1916. He was selected for training in tanks and was posted to Bovington from where he went to France in 1917 with the 5th Battalion of the newly-formed Tank Corps. He was in action on the Somme, during the Third Battle of Ypres, at Passchendaele and continuously until the Battle of Amiens when, on 8th August 1918, he was awarded the Military Medal. His citation reads : 111527 Lance Corporal J Y S Buchanan MM, 5th Battalion, Tank Corps, Battle of Amiens, 8th August 1918. Near Dodod Wood, Lance Corporal J Y S Buchanan displayed the greatest gallantry. His tank received a direct hit which set it on fire, wounding the tank commander and killing three of the crew. Lance Corporal Buchanan and Private Hall, both Members of the crew, re-entered the blazing tank and succeeded in rescuing the Tank Commander and the remaining member of the crew, both of whom were wounded. In addition to the danger they incurred throught ammunition exploding inside the tank, they were exposed to the enemy's fire throughout. John Buchanan was also awarded the French Medaille d'Honneur avec Glaives en Bronze for the same action. He was demobilised in 1919 and returned to Scotland where he trained as an engine driver and worked as such until 1939 when failng eyesight forced his early retirement. He then worked as a gardener on various private estates in Scotland until his final retirement in 1969 at the age of 73. Latterly he moved to Sidmouth in Devon to live with his daughter.

Items Signed by Corporal John Buchanan (deceased)

Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Corporal John Buchanan (deceased)