John Lindsay Kelsall Age 26
Captain "B" Battery, LXXXVI Army Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
Killed in action 27 August 1917, 3rd Battle of Ypres
Buried The Huts Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium
Personal Background
John was born in 1891 in Crieff to Henry Kelsall and Mary Eudoxia Dallas. He had three brothers, Henry, born 1890, Hugh Ainsworth, born 1895 and Draycott Grissell, born 1902.
John's father, Henry, was brought up in the Borders, his family having been at Dryburgh House in 1861, and then at Pinnacle Hill House above Kelso (1871 Census). Henry's father died on a shoot in Kincardine in 1871 when his gun exploded. Henry went on to study at Cambridge and married Mary Dallas at Kilconquar House, near Elie in Fife. Mary was born in Australia and her father was French.
Although John was born in Perthshire, the family must have returned to the Borders, as they, including John, appear in the 1911 Census at Maxpoffle, which is within St. Boswells Parish. John's address in the later paperwork relating to his estate is given as Bothendene, St. Boswells. Bothendene is a house close to the village green in Bowden, on the slopes of the Eildon Hills. His Medals (British War and Victory, plus 1915 Star) were sent to his mother at Maxpoffle on 31 May 1921. His father, Henry died on 20 November 1936 at Darnlee, Melrose and Mary on 8 January 1944, also in Melrose.
Military Background
John was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant RASC on 29 August 1914 and transferred to the Royal Field Artillery with the rank of Captain on 7 February 1917. He was mentioned in despatches.
The War Diary on the date of his death, at Dikkebus, approx. 6 km south east of Ypres states: "27 August 1917 - co-operated with the attack by 19 Corps on the left. Hostile shelling below normal. Captain Kelsall and 2nd Lieutenant Pringle killed in action."
John's name also appears on the Bowden War Memorial, which is understandable since his home was within that village.