John Gillespie was the Son of William Gillespie (a brass polisher with Shanks Barrhead ) and Mrs Agnes Gillespie.
16th October 1918 John Gillespie was the Son of William Gillespie (a brass polisher with Shanks Barrhead ) and Mrs Agnes Gillespie. John was Born 25th Jan 1896 at Highbanks Neilston, Renfrewshire. The family also lived at 2 holehouse brae and later at Kelburn street Barrhead. John was a pupil at Neilston Public school and Prior to war he was employed in the Crofthead mill as Despatch Clerk, His sister Agnes also worked in the thread mill. S/14110 Corporal Gillespie of the 1st Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland highlanders was Killed in Action, age 23 on the 16th October 1918 near the Lys river during during the battle of Courtrai also known as the Second Battle of Belgium. This was one of a series of offensives in Northern France and southern Belgium that took place in late September and October 1918. The offensive began at 5:35 a.m. 14 October, with an attac...