English: My grandfather , George Cavan, was a Regimental Sergeant Major in the 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. He lived with his family, his wife Jean and three daughters, in The Drill Hall in Carluke, Scotland.

At the end of March 1918 George was away at training camp the orders came through to dispatch to France. The train he was on with his troops went through his home station but did not stop there. He threw out onto the station platform a matchbox containing a note to his family. On one side was the name of his wife and on the other the message to the family. (The poignant message, dated March 29, 1918: “Dear wife and bairns, Off to France - love to you all, Daddy.”) Someone picked up the matchbox and delivered it to Jean.

George was killed in action on the 13th April 1918 at the Battle of Hazelbrouck just a few days after arriving at the front in France. He lies in an unmarked grave but is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial near Ypres.

[Editor's note: in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database Company Serjeant Major 7988 George Cavan, 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Bn. Highland Light Infantry, was killed in action 13th April 1918, is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial panel 9. The 9th Bn. formed part of the 33rd Division, heavily engaged on the 12th-15th April resisting the German 'Spring Offensive' of 1918, in what would become known as the battle of Hazebrouck (second phase of the Battle of the Lys).]