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The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project (Registered Scottish Charity No. SC043826). Please visit our homepage at www.scottishmilitaryresearch.co.uk
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DerekR Moderator
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 3013 Location: Hawick, Scotland
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Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:06 pm Post subject: Sgt. John Brunton Daykins V.C - Jedburgh |
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UKNIWM Ref No. not listed
OS Map Ref: NT651207
Location: On wall of British Legion Club, High Street, Jedburgh.
Jedburgh has laid claim to Daykins but he was born just a stone throw from Hawick where he has a street named after him.
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DerekR Moderator
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 3013 Location: Hawick, Scotland
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Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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The London Gazette of 6th January, 1919:
‘Corporal (Acting Sergeant) John Brunton Daykins, No.205353, 2/4th Yorks and Lancs Regiment for most conspicuous bravery and initiative at Solosmes on 20th October, 1918, when with twelve of his party he worked his way most skilfully in the face of heavy opposition towards the church. By prompt action he enabled his party to rush a machine-gun, and during subsequent hand to hand fighting he, himself, disposed of many of the enemy and secured his objective, his party, in addition to heavy casualties inflicted taking 30 prisoners.
He then located another machine-gun which was holding up a portion of his company. Under heavy fire he worked his way alone to the post and shortly afterwards returned with 25 prisoners and an enemy machine-gun which he mounted at his post.
His magnificent fighting spirit and example inspired his men, saved many casualties and contributed very largely to the success of the attack.’ _________________
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DerekR Moderator
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 3013 Location: Hawick, Scotland
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Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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‘When John Daykins and his family came from Howden in a carriage he was met at the town boundary (of Jedburgh) by the Provost and Town Council, the horse was taken from its shafts and he was pulled in a procession by soldiers to the Town Hall. He received his Burgess Ticket in a silver mounted casket made from the wood of the Capon Tree. He was also presented with a silver tea set and canteen of cutlery from the people of Jedburgh.’
The machine-guns that John captured at Solosmes were presented to the town of Jedburgh and mounted at the Castle Jail. There they stayed until they were removed in 1940 to be melted down for scrap metal during the Second World War.
John returned to farming at Howden and took over the tenancy of the farm on the death of his father in 1924. On 24th January, 1933, he was fatally wounded by his own gun as he searched the farm for a troublesome cat. In the dark he had tripped and the gun had went off accidentally. He had recently been suffering from influenza and may still have been weakened by the illness. John died in an ambulance on the way to an Edinburgh hospital.
At a well attended funeral, John Brunton Daykins V.C., M.M., was laid to rest in Castlewood Cemetery, Jedburgh. His medals were presented to the Regimental Museum of the York and Lancaster Regiment in Rotherham by his sister. _________________
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DerekR Moderator
Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 3013 Location: Hawick, Scotland
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Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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stuartn
Joined: 13 Dec 2016 Posts: 2551
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2018 7:38 am Post subject: WMR (ex UKNIWM) number |
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WMR 81052 |
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