James Paton

Died of Wounds on the 22/05/1918 at the 7th Casualty Clearing Station, Ligny-St-Flochel. Wounds sustained near Vimy Ridge

MORE FAMILY INFORMATION - The Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser dated 01/06/1918 states that James' mother had lost 3 sons by that time. James, Peter and Alexander (information to follow on Alexander). According to James' brother Daniel's grandson Thomas Paton he had a brother William who died at a young age and a sister Rebecca (on the 1901 Census) who is buried in Old Monkland Cemetery. Rebecca is listed as DAUGHTER of Edward McCluskey and Mary McCluskey on the 1901 Census. James arrived in France with the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry on the 29/11/1914. They were part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division. He was also with the 12th (Service) Battalion Highland Light Infantry who were part of the 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. On the 11/05/1915 the 1/5th Battalion Highland Light Infantry became part of the 157th Brigade, 52nd (Lowland) Division. On the 26/05/1915 they sailed from Devonport for Gallipoli, going via Egypt (5th - 28th June) and Mudros (1st July), landing at Cape Helles on the 3rd July. On the 08/01/1916 they were evacuated from Gallipoli to Mudros and arrived in Egypt in February. On the 11/04/1918 the Division left Egypt, the Battalion arrived at Marseilles on the 17th April for service on Western Front. Orders were received on the 24th March that the Division would be relieved by the 7th (Meerut) Division and that it would then proceed to France. The Divisional Artillery was exchanged with that of the Indian Division and all units sailed from Alexandria between the 4th and 11th April. The Division went via Marseilles and concentrated near Abbeville by the 23rd April. En route the ship Kingstonian, carrying IX Brigade Royal Field Artillery, 413 Company Royal Engineers and a section of the Divisional Ammunition Column) was torpedoed on the 11th April. On the 29th April the Division moved to Aire and took over a sector of front line near Vimy Ridge on the 6th May until the 21st May when the 8th Division took over. During their time here the different units took turns in the line, and the usual patrolling and trench warfare carried on. Some small trench raids and reconnaissance's were carried out by the different Battalions, and there were several encounters between patrols, in which the Lowlanders usually got the better of it. Several gas-projector attacks were made from the Divisions lines, and both sides shelled with gas, high explosives and shrapnel, the British carrying out some very destructive bombardments of the German lines. James served in Egypt and France and was wounded once. See Directory for James' brother Peter's page. James is listed as 2nd BATTALION on the Coatbridge Memorial (his original Battalion. He also fought with the 12th Battalion). He is also remembered on the Maxwell Church Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for James' Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Birth Records, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, Ligny-St Flochel British Cemetery, the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge and James' Pension Records x 3.