The Battalion arrived at Le Havre on the 05/11/1914 and were part of the 23rd Brigade, 8th Division when James fell. James arrived on the 16/03/1915. The Battalion took part on the opening phase of the Battle of the Somme : the Battle of Albert, 1st - 13th of July 1916 : In this opening phase, the French and British assault broke into and gradually moved beyond the first of the German defensive systems. For the British, the attack on the 1st July proved to be the worst day in the nation's military history in terms of casualties sustained. It is the aspect of the battle that is most remembered and most written about, and for good reason, but to concentrate on the failures is to entirely miss the point of the Somme and why the battle developed into an epic period of the Great War. On the first day, British forces at the southern end of the British line made an impressive advance alongside the French Sixth Army, capturing the villages of Montauban and Mametz and breaking through the enemy's defensive system. North of Mametz the attack was an almost unmitigated failure. The situation led to a redirection of effort, with the offensive north of the River Ancre effectively being closed down and all future focus being on the line south of Thiepval. There was a stiff fight for Trones Wood and costly, hastily planned and piecemeal attacks that eventually took La Boisselle, Contalmaison and Mametz Wood during the rest of the period up to the 13th July. James fell at Vermelles on the 11/08/1916. THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FOR THAT DAY STATES -"Battalion relieved in trenches & withdrawn to support. This tour in trenches was characterised by constant trench mortar activity on both sides. 2/Lieut E. G. WIGHTWICK accidentally wounded by rifle grenade. 1 Other Rank Killed in Action. 3 Other Ranks Wounded in Action". James was the Other Rank Killed in Action. SEE PHOTOS x 10 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FROM 1st JULY - 11th AUGUST 1916. A huge thank you to my friend Tom and his father Jim and mother Robina Clark (same name as James' friend mentioned above) who paid respect to James on the 06/11/2020 and the 09/11/2021 at the Memorial (see photos x 11) and again on Remembrance Sunday 2022 at George Square, Glasgow and at the Coatbridge Memorial on the 18/11/2022 (see photos x 4). Another visit to the Coatbridge Memorial was made by Tom, Jim and Robina on Remembrance Sunday 2023 (see photos x 3). See photos for James' Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his name on the Ireland Casualties of WW1, his Headstone Report, Vermelles British Cemetery and the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge. Finally see photos for James' friend Mrs Robina Clark's mention in her late husbands Will from 1899, another photo of James' grave, Vermelles British Cemetery taken by myself in July 2023, photos of James' grave taken in July 2023 x 2, myself at James' grave in July 2023, the Poppy Cross I placed at James' grave before I left for France, the 8th Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division who he was with when he died), PHOTOS x 21 FOR THE 8th DIVISION BOOK JUNE - AUGUST 1916 and another 2 photos of James' grave kindly donated by my friend in France, Thierry Dericbourg. The War Diary for the 2nd Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) from November 1914 - January 1918 is available to read online
Here
