James McRoberts (real name McGillivray)

Killed in Action on the 22/04/1916 at the attack on the Sannaiyat Position (part of the siege of Kut-al-Amara)

The Battalion were in Agra, India in August 1914 and were part of the 19th (Dehra Dun) Brigade, 7th (Meerut) Division. On the 21/09/1914 they moved to France, landing at Marseilles on the 12/10/1914. In December 1915 they moved to Mesopotamia, landing at Basra late in the month. The formation was by now renamed 21st Brigade, 7th (Meerut) Division. On the 04/02/1916, owing to heavy casualties, they formed the Highland Battalion with the 2nd Battalion Black Watch. In 1916 the Turks pursued the retreating 6th (Poona) Division to Kut, and soon surrounded and cut it off. British forces in Mesopotamia were now growing, the arrival of the experienced 3rd (Lahore), 7th (Meerut) and 13th (Western) Divisions bringing a significant increase in strength. These formations were ordered to advance north along the Tigris to relieve Kut. They ran into strong and stoutly defended lines and suffered some hard knocks. Although they got close to Kut, they failed to break through and relieve it and garrison there was surrendered on 29 April 1916. It was an enormous blow to British prestige and a morale-booster for the Ottoman Empire. James' Division took part in The siege of Kut-al-Amara (7th December 1915 - 29th April 1916), The efforts to relieve Kut, The Battle of Sheik Sa'ad (7th January 1916), The Battle of the Wadi (13th January 1916), The Battle of the Hanna (21st January 1916), The Attack on the Dujaila Redoubt (7th - 9th March 1916), The Battles of the Hanna and Fallahiyeh (5th - 8th April 1916), The Battles of Bait Aisa and Sannaiyat (7th - 22nd April 1916) and the surrender of the Kut garrison (29th April 1916). The final effort was against Sannaiyat on the 22nd April. The Allies were unable to take Sannaiyat and suffered some 1,200 casualties in the process. James was 1 of these casualties. James served using the ALIAS of McRoberts. The real family name is McGILLIVRAY. This is stated on James' name on the Basra Memorial and by the CWGC. See Directory for James' brother Alexander's page. 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, his name on the Basra Memorial Panel List, his name on the Basra Memorial, James' Pension Record x 4, the Seaforth Highlanders Cap Badge, the CWGC Basra Memorial Roll of Honour and James' name in the CWGC Basra Memorial Roll of Honour.