Pte (Bugler) John William Distin was a 20 year old clerk originally from Pickney’s Green, Maidenhead, England living in Saskatoon, SK when he attested into the 96th Battalion CEF at Saskatoon on 16 Feb 1916. The 96th Battalion departed for the UK on 27 Sept 1916 where it was absorbed by the 92nd Battalion (48th Highlanders) and placed into the 5th Reserve Battalion which supplied reinforcements to CEF units already at the Front in Belgium/France. He was sent in a reinforcement draft from the 5th Reserve Battalion to the 15th Battalion (48th Highlanders), 3rd Brigade, 1st Division and joined the unit on 22 Apr 1917 following the battalion’s actions at Vimy Ridge earlier that month. He was posted to No. 3 Company of the battalion and remained with that subunit until his death.

There no entries in his 15th Battalion Record of Services card or his Service file that absent him from the 15th battalion between April and Nov 1917 so he would have been at Hill 70 15-16 August 1917.

He was KIA on 8 Nov 1917 by the concussion from an HE (High Explosive) artillery shell while resting in support trenches during the battle of Passchendaele. He was buried at Nile House 28NE.1 D14.a.4.0.9.0

Witnesses were Lt Charles Read and 192886 Sgt. James Bryce also of No. 3 Company which had been providing front line working parties and stretcher bearers to the 3rd Bn.

Following the war, the battlefield clearances failed to recover the buried remains of John Distin or, if they were recovered, they could not be identified and, as a result, he is commemorated on The Menin Gate in Ypres – Panel 18-24-26-30

NOK: John Distin (F) Pinkneys Green, Maidenhead, Berkshire, England

Mother: “Annie”