Lieutenant John Gill Appleby was killed in action on the Somme on 14.7.1916, while serving with the 8th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment. Two days earlier, the Battalion had participated in a night assault on Ovillers, two Companies digging-in at the centre of the village and holding out against strong counter-attacks. It is probable that Lieutenant Appleby was killed during one of these latter contests (See Westlake's British Battalions on the Somme).