Family Information
Son of Thomas and Sarah Coats. Husband of Janet M Coats (19/06/1877 - 29/12/1960) of 9j Gartsherrie Rd, Coatbridge. They had 3 children, Thomas born 11/07/1906, James born 13/06/1908 and Robert born 17/05/1914. In his Will dated 27/10/1915 James left everything to his wife Janet. From the 1901 Census - Address - 180j Bank St, Coatbridge - Thomas Coats aged 58, Sarah Coats aged 58, John Coats aged 34, William Coats aged 25, James Coats aged 21 and Malcolm Coats aged 15. From the 1891 Census - Address - 9 Smiths Court, Coatbridge - Thomas Coats aged 45, Sarah Coats aged 47, James N Coats aged 27, Archibald Coats aged 18, William Coats aged 15, James Coats aged 12, Robert Coats aged 9, Malcolm Coats aged 5. James' Pension was awarded to his wife Janet on the 27/06/1918. Their 3 children are also listed.
Additional Information
The Battalion arrived at Boulogne in October 1915 and were part of the 108th Brigade, 36th (Ulster) Division when James was Killed in Action near Moeuvres at the Battle of Cambrai : The attack was launched at 6.20am on the 20th November. The British Divisions in the front line were, from right to left, the 12th (Eastern), 20th (Light), 6th, 51st (Highland), 62nd (West Riding) and 36th (Ulster). In immediate support was the 29th, and ready to exploit the anticipated breakthrough and sweep round Cambrai were the 1st, 2nd and 5th Cavalry Divisions. The Cambrai operations, 1917 (Battle of Cambrai), 20th November - 30th December 1917 : A British attack, originally conceived as a very large scale raid, that employed new artillery techniques and massed tanks. Initially very successful with large gains of ground being made, but German reserves brought the advance to a halt. Ten days later, a counter-attack regained much of the ground. Ultimately a disappointing and costly outcome, but Cambrai is now seen by historians as the blueprint for the successful 'Hundred Days' offensives of 1918. From Captain Stair Gillon: The Story of the 29th Division: a record of gallant deeds : "The Battle of Cambrai ranks as one of the most thrilling episodes of the whole war. Tanks at last came into their kingdom. The notion that the Hindenburg Line was impregnable was exploded". SEE PHOTOS x 17 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY NOVEMBER 1917 and PHOTOS x 25 FOR THE 36th (ULSTER) DIVISION BOOK 20th - 22nd NOVEMBER 1917. James is listed as PRIVATE on the Coatbridge Memorial and is listed as COATES on his Medal Index Card, his Army Register, the Ireland Casualties and his Service Medal and Award Rolls (see photos). James was formerly with the Royal Army Service Corps (TR/043372). He is also remembered on the Coats Parish Church and in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Rolls of Honour and at the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery (James' wife Janet also mentioned, see photos). See photos for James' Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Cambrai Memorial Panel List, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, name on the Cambrai Memorial x 2, his name in the Ireland Casualties WW1, the Royal Army Service Corps Cap Badge (his previous Regiment), the Royal Irish Rifles Cap Badge, James' Pension Records x 2 and a map showing part of the Hindenburg Line before and after the Battle. Finally, see photos for a Poppy placed by myself at James' name on the Cambrai Memorial in July 2023 x 3, myself at the Cambrai Memorial in July 2023, a photo of the Louverval Military Cemetery and Cambrai Memorial taken by myself in July 2023 (On an elevated terrace in Louverval Military Cemetery in Louverval, France, stands the Cambrai Memorial. It commemorates 7,116 servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died in the Battle of Cambrai whose graves are not known) and the 36th (Ulster) Division Order of Battle x 14 (the Division James was with when he fell).
