More about John Mackie Yule

John Has no known grave but is remembered on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial. John was the son of Jessie Wood Yule and the late Stewart Yule. He was the brother of Pte Adam Yule 9225, 1st Battalion, Black Watch who was killed action 09.10.1914. His three other brothers also served in the Great War, Robert (1895) Black Watch, Samuel (7394) & Stewart (7143)

John Yule   8955   Cameron Highlanders

FOUR DUNDEE BROTHERS FIGHT

SIDE BY SIDE IN THE AISNE BATTLE.

ONE IS KILLED AND ANOTHER IS WOUNDED.

“He has died bravely with his face to the enemy after receiving five bullet wounds.”

This glowing tribute to Corporal John Yule, of the Cameron Highlanders, is paid by his brother, Corporal Stewart Yule, of the Black Watch, in a letter he has written to his wife, who resides in Ogilvie’s Road, Dundee.

The mother of the two soldiers, Mrs Stewart Yule, who resides at 20 Hill Street, in addition to being informed that her so John has been killed has received intimation that her son Lance-Corporal Samuel Yule, also of the Black watch, was wounded on the same day.

Mrs Yule has four sons at the front—John, Stewart, Samuel and Private Adam, of the Black Watch.

On 14th September all the four were fighting in the battle of the Aisne side by side.  Stewart and Adam left their brothers for a brief period, and when they returned, they found John had been killed, and Samuel had sustained a fracture of the arm and knee, and also severe injury to his hip.  After seeing Samuel placed in the Red Cross van, they took their fallen brothers’ places in the fighting line.

In a letter to his wife dated 27th Sept, Stewart says :^___”I must tell you sad news.  John was killed doing his duty after receiving five bullet wounds.  Break the news as gently as you can to mother.  Brother Sam was also wounded.  He is on the road home now, and will probably call at Dundee.  He was greatly put about over John’s death.  Tell them that God has been good to your husband.  We are still having the best of the fighting.”

In another letter, dated 29th Sept, he writes :^___”You might send me out the “Saturday Football Post.” For you know one has a spare moment to read the news.  Console my mother on her loss, for I know how she will feel missing her son.  He died a soldier’s death, fighting for his country’s cause.  Everything is looking well here.  From the reports we receive from newspapers and German prisoners the enemy are in a deplorable condition and starving.

Corporal John Yule, who was 27 years of age, had served 12 years with the Cameron Highlanders, and only came home about a year ago, and transferred to the Black Watch, when he knew his brothers were going to the front.

Dundee Courier 8th October 1914