Historic Records Men of 1914

Arrived overseas: 3 September 1914. Connection: 1914 Star and Victory Medal. John Cain was discharged from the army with shell-shock on the 18th May 1916. Born in 1881 he had been a soldier since the 7th April 1902, but may have only served for three years - that is, until April 1905 - before being transferred to the army reserve. When Britain went to war in August 1914 he would have been mobilised and, when he was fit enough, sent as part of a draft to France. The 1st Loyal North Lancashire Regiment had arrived in France on the 13th August but John Cain did not disembark there until the 3rd September, lending weight to the theory that he was not in uniform in August 1914. John's service overseas was short-lived. He was admitted to the American Women's Hospital on the 30th October 1914, one of a party of sick and wounded men, and would be discharged as a result of sickness in May 1916. That 'sickness' was neurasthenia, or 'shell-shock'. Upon discharge, John gave...