James (Jimmy) Conlin

Killed in Action on the 23/06/1917 by shrapnel when in the trenches for the 1st time at Nieuport

15th (Service) Battalion (1st Glasgow) are often known by its original title of the Glasgow Tramways Battalion. They arrived at Boulogne on the 23/11/1915 and were part of the 97th Brigade, 32nd Division. James was attached to the Company's Headquarters as a signaller when he was Killed in Action (by shrapnel whilst in the trenches for the 1st time) when the 32nd Division relieved French troops stationed at Nieuport in preparation for planned Allied landings on German-held territory along the Belgian coast. 13 days before his birthday. German marines launched a pre-emptive attack against the British forces on the river Yser in July and the landings, codenamed 'Operation Hush', never took place. Over 260 men commemorated on the Nieuport Memorial were killed or mortally wounded during heavy fighting with units of the German Marine-Korps Flandern on the 10/07/1917. James' Battalion was transferred to the Nieuport sector on the Belgium coast during June 1917 in readiness to support a British offensive at the Third Battle of Ypres. SEE PHOTOS x 11 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY JUNE 1917. James is listed as 4th BATTALION on the Coatbridge Memorial. James was a professional footballer. During his career he played for Albion Rovers, Airdrieonians, Birmingham City, Bradford City, Manchester City and Falkirk. His transfer fee of £1000 for his move to Manchester City was only the second such fee in the pre-war era. On the 07/04/1906 he played before a then world record 102,741 crowd in Glasgow in the Scotland v England international which Scotland won 2-1, the first international at Hampden. Despite having grown up in Coatbridge James played obviously for England. See Newspaper clippings for more information. Google James' name for lots more information on this brave man and great footballer. Huge thanks to James' relatives Craig and David Taylor for the 2 photos of James' England cap for playing against Scotland in 1906 (1 picture framed, 1 not). See photos for James' Medal Index Card, another 2 photos of James, his name on the Nieuport Memorial x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Nieuport Memorial Panel List, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, the Albion Rovers team picture from Scottish Qualifying Cup Final 1903-04 played at Dens Park, Dundee (Jimmy front 2nd from right) and James' Pension Records x 3. Also see photos x 2 for the Albion Rovers F.C. match programme in March 2022. James' story is told in 2 pages. Brian Nugent is heavily involved in remembering the men who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the Great War and who played for the Wee Rovers. He kindly mentioned myself and the website in the article. See photos x 6 for the Remembrance Garden opened on the 11/11/2023 at the Albion Rovers stadium. 8 plaques show the names of the players. Rovers chaplain David Shaw led prayers and readings at the poignant service, which was attended by around 60 people, while Salvation Army bugler Captain Scott Garman sounded 'The Last Post' ahead of a two-minute silence (photos 5 and 6 kindly donated by James' relative Craig). Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 6 (Coatbridge Express x 4 and Coatbridge Leader x 2), the 32nd Division Order of Battle x 14 (the Division he was with when he died), the 1911 England Census listing James and family, 2 more photos of James (Jimmy) and the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge.