Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 34C GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Early Life :
Eldest son of Archibald and Margaret Grace (nee Murphy) on 26th February 1888 at Hanwell, Middlesex. In later years he was resident of the Manor House, Yateley, Hampshire. The family had recently settled back in Britain after living in Australia, where John's parents had married and also China where two of his sisters were born.Family :
Jean Blanche nee Steward-Wilson only child of Sir Charles Stewart-Wilson, a prominent civil servant. They had a son , John Archibald who was born just a few months after his father's death.Education & Career :
Hampden House (1904) at Brighton College
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 2/King's Own Scottish Borderers |
2nd Battalion August 1914 : in Dublin. Part of 13th Brigade, 5th Division. Landed at Le Havre 15 August 1914. |
| Action : France & Flanders |
France & Flanders covers all the dates and corresponding locations which are outside the official battle nomenclature dates on the Western Front. Therefore the actions in which these men died could be considered 'normal' trench duty - the daily attrition losses which were an everyday fact of duty on the Western Front.
Detail :
In 1911, he received a commission in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers and was attached to the 2nd Battalion based in Ranikhet, India. On the outbreak of war the battalion moved back to Europe and it is mentioned he was subsequently engaged in action at Gallipoli, despite the 2nd Battalion being in France at the time.
See more at Yately Manor.
"Following his marriage to Jean, John was posted to the Western Front and fought in the Battle of the Somme before being killed by enemy shellfire on 19 May 1917. He was posthumously promoted to Captain on the same day, possibly as a kind gesture by his commanding officer because it would increase his widow's pension. Hetty Cumnor (Parlour Maid) also recalled his young wife's reaction to the return of his belongings:
"When his belongings were sent home from the war with the filth and gore of the trenches the young lady took them up to her bedroom and shut the door. After some time had passed the parents became worried and opened the door. She had fallen asleep with her arms clasped around his [Ainslie's] coat. She was carrying his child, I believe.""
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Triune Brotherhood No. 2121 E.C. | East Punjab |
| Joined : | Chutter Munzil No. 3276 E.C. | Bengal |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
19th March 1913 | 23rd August 1913 | 25th November 1913 |
United Grand Lodge of England records show that John was Killed in Action in May 1917.
Lodge title is Triune Brotherhood (not Tribune) No. 2121 in Kasauli. Initiated as a Lieutenant, referencing the K.O.S.B. He joined Chutter Munzil Lodge in Lucknow, Bengal on 23rd July 1910, showing a resignation on 31st October 1918 (this appears not to be right as he had already been killed).
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley