BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY - Calvados
Lance Sergeant, JOHN HERBERT McDOWALL, 909490. 131 Field Regt. Royal Artillery. 27th June 1944. Age 24. Son of John and Grace Muriel McDowall, of Paisley, Renfrewshire. XII.D.7.
The War Diary states that Sgt.McDowall was killed in a battle accident, however an article in the Gunner Magazine written by Ted Rayner (a member of C. Troop Observation.Party.) says that Sgt. John McDowall was signals sergeant for the party, his job was to follow Captain Peppiatts armoured Universal Carrier to the chosen observation position (O.P.).
He then returned to the 320 Battery headquarters (B.H.Q.) and acted as a guide to the battery signallers who laid telephone wires from the B.H.Q. to the O.P.. The O.P. used the phone to send instructions to the battery to ensure accurate bombardment of the target.
John McDowall, observing the capture of his Commanding Officer by German Troops attempted to escape but was shot dead. Captain Peppiatt considered the motor cycle that John McDowall had been issued with far too exposed for such a dangerous mission and always insisted that in future his Signals Sergeant would be equipped with an armoured carrier.
