James Rankin

Died of Wounds on the 01/09/1915 at the No.1 Casualty Clearing Station at Chocques

The 1st (Lowland) Field Company were part of the 1st Division. James arrived in France on the 16/12/1914. James Died of Wounds at the No.1 Casualty Clearing Station in Chocques. The Casualty Clearing Station was part of the casualty evacuation chain, further back from the front line than the Aid Posts and Field Ambulances. It was manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps, with attached Royal Engineers and men of the Army Service Corps. The job of the CCS was to treat a man sufficiently for his return to duty or, in most cases, to enable him to be evacuated to a Base Hospital. It was not a place for a long-term stay. At times, certain Casualty Clearing Stations were given the more specialised role of operating a rest camp, convalescent unit or hospital for casualties of nervous conditions. James' Newspaper clipping from the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser on the 18/09/1915 states James was KILLED IN ACTION at the Dardanelles (a 41 mile strait between Europe and Asiatic Turkey that were overlooked by high cliffs on the Gallipoli Peninsula. See Newspaper clipping). See photos for James' Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Chocques Military Cemetery, James' Pension Records x 2, the Royal Engineers Cap Badge, James' brother Robert's Service Records x 20 and his mention in the Reverend Samuel Lindsay's 1919 book. James' grave inscription reads "THE LORD GAVE AND THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY BLESSED BE HIS NAME".