James Russell Hutton

Killed in Action on the 16/05/1915 from a snipers bullet on the 2nd day of the Battle of Festubert

The Battalion arrived at Zeebrugge on the 07/10/1914 and were part of the 20th Brigade, 7th Division. James arrived in France on the 28/03/1915. On the morning of the 16/05/1915 a comrade asked James for the use of his knife and as he moved his hand to give his comrade the knife a German sniper opened fire hitting James' hand with the bullet entering his body. Despite help from his comrades he died. The day before James died the Division was beginning its involvement in the Battle of Festubert (15th - 25th May 1915) which was in effect a second phase of the recently failed attack on Aubers Ridge. Once again, the attack would take the form of a pincer attack with two assault frontages: a northern one along the Rue du Bois near Port Arthur and Richebourg l'Avoue, and a southern one at Festubert. On the 16/05/1915 at 03.15a.m, on the 22nd Brigades left, the 20th Brigade are slowed by a deep ditch, and crossfire from the Quadrilateral position on their left front, untouched by the bombardment as it lay in the area between the two Divisional attacks. SEE PHOTOS x 10 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY MAY 1915. James is listed as LANCE CORPORAL and 3rd BATTALION on the Coatbridge Memorial. See Directory for his younger brother John's page. See photos for tribute from the Pulpit by the Reverend Archibald Chisolm (Coatbridge Express Newspaper clippings). James is also remembered on the Coatbridge Technical College Roll of Honour (with his brother John), Middle United Free Church Roll of Honour (with his brother John) and at the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery (with his brother John) (see photos). See photos for James' Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Le Touret Memorial Panel List, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, James' name in the Scotland National Probate Index, his name on the Le Touret Memorial, James' Pension Records x 2 and the Gordon Highlanders Cap Badge. Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 27 FOR THE 7th DIVISION BOOK MARCH - MAY 1915, the 7th Division Order of Battle (the Division James was with when he died), James' name on the Le Touret Memorial (taken by myself in July 2023) and Newspaper clippings x 11 (Coatbridge Express x 5, Coatbridge Leader x 4 and the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 2).