John James

In August 1914 the 1/7th Battalion were part of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Brigade, Highland Division. On the 16/12/1914 they left the Division and landed in France. On the 06/01/1915 they came under orders of 10th Brigade, 4th Division and on the 01/03/1916 they transferred to 154th Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division. John arrived in France on the 09/07/1915 with the 11th (Service) Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. They were part of the 45th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. John received gunshot wounds to the shoulder at the Battle of Loos in September 1915 and recovered in a Military Hospital in Colchester. John returned to France after his injury at the Battle of Loos and was posted to the 10th (Service) Battalion on the 19/05/1916. He was admitted to No. 9 General Hospital in Rouen suffering from shellshock on the 23/07/1916. He joined the 1/7th Battalion on the 09/09/1916. The casualties for the 11th (Service) Battalion at the Battle of Loos from the 25th - 27th September : 15 Officers and 611 Other Ranks. The 15th (Scottish) Division casualties for the Battle of Loos were : 84 Officers Killed, 116 Wounded and 28 Missing. 617 Other Ranks Killed, 3,503 Wounded and 2,548 Missing. TOTAL = 6,896. After being wounded 3 times John was finally killed by a sniper on the 04/12/1916 in the neighbourhood of Pozieres near Courcelette. SEE PHOTOS x 9 FOR THE 1/7th BATTALION WAR DIARY NOVEMBER - 6th DECEMBER 1916. The War Diary states for the 4th December - "Enemy snipers particularly active at Junction of NEW ST + SUPPORT TRENCH. Enemy snipers recognised RED + FLAG. A stretcher bearer party of ours carrying a RED + FLAG were allowed to proceed without being fired at. Casualties - Killed 4 O.R. (Other Ranks), Wounded 5 O.R. (Other Ranks)". See John's Service Records for lots of family information. John is listed as 1st BATTALION on the Coatbridge Memorial. He is also remembered on the Drumpellier Church Roll of Honour and in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his name on the Thiepval Memorial x 2, John's Pension Records x 3, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Cap Badge and John's Service Records x 16. Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 39 FOR THE 51st (HIGHLAND) DIVISION BOOK NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 1916, the 51st (Highland) Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division he was with when he died), the Memorial to the 51st (Highland) Division taken by myself in July 2023, located within the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel, scene of the Division’s action in November 1916 x 3, a wooden cross Memorial to the 51st (Highland) Division next to “Y” Ravine taken by myself in July 2023 x 2 (this represents the Officers and men who fell at High Wood in July 1916) and Newspaper clippings x 3 (Coatbridge Express x 1, Coatbridge Leader x 1 and the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 1).