Additional Information
The Battalion sailed from Liverpool on the 24/05/1915, going via Egypt to Gallipoli, arriving there on the 14/06/1915. In January 1916 the Battalion moved via Mudros to Egypt. On the 17/04/1918 they moved with the Division and landed at Marseilles for service in France. They were part of the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division. The Battle of the Soissonais and of the Ourcq, 23rd July - 2nd August 1918 : the Division was to concentrate some five miles to the south-east, about the Bois de la Baillette, during the ensuing night, with a view of attacking in the direction of Bagneux and Grand Rozoy on the morning of the 29th. The troops moved off at 9pm and reached the position of assembly, west of a light railway, by 1am on the 29th without incident. At 4.10am fog covered the ground, but the leading line, in which were the 1/8th Scottish Rifles and 1/5th K.O.S.B. of the 103rd Brigade, and the 4/R Sussex and 2/4th Queens of the 101st Brigade, each on a two-company front, pushed forward through a German barrage, which fell two hundred yards in front of the starting line and contained a belt of tear-gas. Good progress of over a mile was made; so towards 6 am a short halt was ordered. When further advances were made at a number of places, as far as the Bois de Bagneux (west of the village) and Point 189, north-west of the village, the Germans counter attacked. After a long deadlock and a struggle against machine-gun fire, the troops fell back about 2pm to the position gained at the first advance. SEE PHOTOS x 10 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY JULY 1918. The War Diary states the casualties from noon 28th July - midnight 31st July were - 3 Officers Killed, 11 Wounded (including 1 who died of wounds), 2 Wounded (Gas), 41 Other Ranks Killed, 226 Wounded, 18 Wounded (Gas), 19 Missing. Total Casualties - 16 Officers, 304 Other Ranks. The 34th Division book states casualties as follows : July 22nd to 28th inclusive - 2 Officers Killed, 128 Other Ranks Killed, 43 Officers Wounded, 1095 Other Ranks Wounded and 26 Other Ranks Missing. July 29th to 31st inclusive - 16 Officers Killed, 206 Other Ranks Killed, 61 Officers Wounded, 1356 Other Ranks Wounded and 136 Other Ranks Missing. August 1st to 3rd inclusive - 12 Officers Killed, 138 Other Ranks Killed, 18 Officers Wounded, 479 Other Ranks Wounded, 1 Officer Missing and 31 Other Ranks Missing. This was a phase of the Battles of the Marne, 20th July - 2nd August 1918 : A British force takes part in Foch's very large scale and highly successful counter offensive of the Marne, which proves to be the start of an unbroken series of Allied successes. James was reported as missing on the 29/07/1918. His death was not confirmed till October. He had spent some time fighting in the East. James was formerly with the Royal Field Artillery (143548). See photos for James' Medal Index Card, for a letter sent to James' family by Lieutenant Peattie (Newspaper clipping), his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Soissons Memorial Panel List, his name on the Soissons Memorial x 2, the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge, James' former Regiment the Royal Field Artillery Cap Badge and his Pension Records x 3. Finally, see photos for a Newspaper clipping from the Coatbridge Express 02/10/1918, the 34th Division Order of Battle x 15 (the Division who he was with when he died) and PHOTOS x 17 FOR THE 34th DIVISION BOOK 27th JUNE - 4th AUGUST 1918.
