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John Lang McInnes was born on 18th August 1879 in Duchal Mid Lodge, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, the third of a family of seven (six surviving) born to Archibald McInnes, a ploughman from Iona, Argyllshire and Isabella Lang, from Pennytersal Farm, Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire who had married at Pennytersal on 12th June 1873.

In 1881 Archibald (38), Isabella (37), and three of their children Mary, Donald and John (aged 1) were living in Duchal East Porters Lodge, Kilmacolm. Archibald was a gardener's labourer.

By 1891 the McInnes family of seven had moved back to Duchal Mid Lodge and Archibald was a gardener. Mary was not in the family home.

In 1901 the family was living in Burnbrae Cottage, Bridge of Weir. By then Archibald was a market gardener. Mary, a baker's shop woman, was back in the family home; Donald was a joiner; John (21) was a butcher; Isabella a grocer's book-keeper and Janet a draper's assistant. The family income was quite secure.

In 1911 the family was still in Burnbrae Cottage, although John, Donald and Mary were no longer at home. Archibald senior had retired, Archibald junior was a domestic coachman and Isabella and Jenny were both book keepers for a grocer.

John L McInnes volunteered in Bridge of Weir in early June 1915, although he had been employed for a considerable time prior to that as a butcher in Dingwall. He was enlisted as a Private in the 12th Battalion of the Scottish Rifles, a reserve battalion used to train and replenish troops for active service.

Private McInnes's Medal Index Card does not record when he first joined the theatre of war but he was not awarded the 1914 -15 Star, so he did not see action until 1916. He was attached to the 10th Battalion Scottish Rifles, which formed part of the 46th Brigade of the 15th (Scottish) Division. On 27th January 1916, that battalion suffered losses near Chalk Pit Wood in the Loos sector when the Germans launched a local bombardment and attack, possibly to mark the Kaiser's birthday. John was killed near Vermelles on 12th May 1916 in another German attack, this time on the section of trench known as 'The Kink'. His name is recorded on the Loos Memorial which commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, and who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay.

Both of John's parents had died before him. His brothers also served, and one of them was home on furlough when news of his death was received.

Newspaper Clippings relating to John Lang MacInnes

John L Macinnes