The Battalion sailed from Devonport for Gallipoli on the 26/05/1915, going via Egypt (5th - 28th June) and Mudros (1st July), landing at Cape Helles on the 3rd of July. They were evacuated from Gallipoli to Mudros on the 08/01/1916 and arrived in Egypt in February. On the 11/04/1918 the Division left Egypt and the Battalion arrived at Marseilles on the 17th of April for service on Western Front. The Battalion were part of the 157th Brigade, 52nd (Lowland) Division. The Division took part in the Battle of the Scarpe, 26th – 30th August 1918 and the Battle of the Drocourt-Queant Line, 2nd – 3rd September 1918. These were phases of the Second Battles of Arras 1918. They also took part in the Battle of the Canal du Nord which was a phase of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line, 12th September - 12th October 1918 : A series of very large scale offensive operations that advance to and break the Hindenburg Line system. Carried out by the First, Third and Fourth Armies these victories rank among the greatest-ever British military achievements. The German Army fights on but it is increasingly clear that their ability to do so is declining fast. Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and United States all play key parts. SEE PHOTOS x 28 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY SEPTEMBER 1918 and PHOTOS x 26 FOR THE 52nd (LOWLAND) DIVISION BOOK SEPTEMBER 1918. According to the 52nd (Lowland) Division book the 157th Brigade casualties from 22nd - 31st August were : 1/5th Battalion Highland Light Infantry - 4 Officers Killed, 10 Wounded, 1 Missing and 19 Other Ranks Killed, 256 Wounded, 59 Missing. 1/6th BATTALION HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY - 5 OFFICERS KILLED, 12 WOUNDED and 40 OTHER RANKS KILLED, 298 WOUNDED, 23 MISSING. 1/7th Battalion Hight Light Infantry - 5 Officers Killed, 9 Wounded and 58 Other Ranks Killed, 249 Wounded, 23 Missing. James' additional grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. James is also remembered on the St. Patrick's Roll of Honour (book). See photos James' Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 3, his Headstone Report, another photos of James' grave, his Pension Records x 3, for full family picture from 1912 (From back left: Joseph John, Margaret, Annie, William, Mary, Thomas, Terrance. From front left: James, Agnes, Mary Ann, William, Charles, Elizabeth), photo of mother and sister Annie, photo of his brother Thomas, Sunken Road Cemetery and the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge. Finally, see photos x 12 for the 52nd (Lowland) Division Order of Battle (the Division he was serving with when he was wounded) and Newspaper clippings x 2 (Coatbridge Express x 1 and Coatbridge Leader x 1).
