Whereas the months of July throughout the war saw the 15th Battalion taking part in the endless routine of trench tours in and out of the front lines in both Belgium and France, the months of August were far more intense and as a result, saw far more casualties. The first two years were dominated by trench tours in the Ypres salient. August 1915 was spent in the north Ploegsteert sector predominantly near Hill 63 with locations that would become familiar to the battalion – Grand Munque Farm, Haunted House, The Piggeries where Bruno (mascot) joined the unit, Gold Fish Farm, and The Devil’s Elbow – and the early part of August 1916 was spent near Hill 60 at ‘The Bluff’. However, the last two years saw the battalion engaged in two very large battles – Hill 70 in August 1917 and Amiens in early August 1918 and the advance to the Drocourt Queant Line at the end of that month.
During the August 1-5, 1916 front line trench tour at The Bluff, the lines were subjected to stiff shelling which caused four to five casualties per day. On August 5th the enemy blew a mine on the edge of Crater Post and the battalion retaliated with bombing parties raiding enemy listening and bombing posts that night.
447257 Private John McDonald was a 29 year old iron worker originally from Pictou, NS when he attested into the 56th Battalion in June 1915 at Calgary. Initially sent to the 8th Battalion in May 1916. He was transferred to the 15th Battalion as a reinforcement in June following Observatory ridge (Mount Sorrel) and served in No. 2 Company in the late June and July trench tours at Hill 60.
On August 3, 1916 while No. 3 Company occupied Crater and Gordon Posts, Private MacDonald suffered GSWs to both thighs and was evacuated to No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station where he died of his wounds the next day. Private MacDonald is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.
NOK: Mrs. J. Macdonald (W) 1927 7th Ave E. Calgary, Alberta
