Lieutenant John Scatcherd Laycock was a 36 year old sales manager originally from Buffalo, NY when he attested into the 92 Battalion (48th Highlanders) on August 28, 1915 in Toronto.
He was promoted Captain and transferred to the 15th Battalion in August 1916 and attach posted to the 1st Entrenching Battalion before actually joining the 15th battalion on The Somme in September. During the battle of Thiepval Ridge/Regina Trench on September 26th he was wounded in the back right shoulder by shrapnel and evacuated first to Le Havre and from there to Lady Cooper’s Hospital Hursley Park, Winchester for medical treatment.
Captain Laycock rejoined the battalion just after Vimy on April 14, 1917. In June the battalion was back in the Vimy sector north of Arleux and on the night of the 10th the entire unit was ordered forward to work on Canada trench, a reserve defence position on top of Vimy Ridge. Near morning the position was shelled by German 5.9 artillery killing Captain Laycock and Private A.J. Riddle.
NOK: Son of Hartley Laycock; husband of Annie Laycock. Annie Laycock (M) 110 Dunvegan Rd., Toronto, ON
