James (Jimmy) Conlin likeness

Private James (Jimmy) Conlin

15th (Service) Battalion (Glasgow Tramways) Highland Light Infantry
Service No: 26447

James (Jimmy) Conlin grave

1978

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Personal details

Family Information

Eldest son of Luke and Mary Ann Courtney Conlin of Coatbank St, Coatbridge. Eldest of 4 children. Husband of Elizabeth Conlin born 27/06/1881 of 49 Coatbank St, Coatbridge. Father of David born 29/12/1905, Elizabeth Ann born 14/06/1908 and Ann born 06/05/1913. From the 1891 Census - Luke Conlin aged 34, Mary Ann Conlin aged 27, James Conlin aged 10, Mary Conlin aged 6, Bernard Conlin aged 5, Annie Conlin aged 2 and James' dads brother James Conlin aged 30. From the 1901 Census - Address - 69 North Jackson St, Coatbridge - Luke Conlin aged 43, Mary Ann Conlin aged 38, James Conlin aged 19, Bernard Conlin aged 15, Annie Conlin aged 12, Margaret Conlin aged 5, James' dads brother James Conlin aged 38. James' Pension was awarded to his wife Elizabeth on the 08/01/1918. Their 3 children are also listed. The Pension and Children's Allowance was commenced from the 10/01/1918 and increased from the 09/03/1919.

Born / Resided

Consett, Durham / 49 Coatbank St, Coatbridge.

Died

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

Enlisted

Coatbridge 1915

Employed

Labourer in the Horse Shoe Works / Professional footballer.

Age

35 / DOB - 06/07/1881

Buried / Remembered

Nieuport Memorial (Panel 19), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

he Nieuport Memorial commemorates 566 Commonwealth officers and men who were killed in Allied operations on the Belgian coast during the First World War and have no known grave. Twenty of those commemorated served with the Royal Naval Division and were killed or mortally wounded during the siege of Antwerp in October 1914. Almost all of the remainder fell in heavy fighting in the region of Nieuport in the summer of 1917.

Additional Information

The Battalion 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 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), James' Pension Records x 3 and the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge. 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. Also 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).

Photos
James (Jimmy) Conlin Medal Index CardJames (Jimmy) Conlin newspaper clippingJames (Jimmy) Conlin remembered at homeJames (Jimmy) Conlin remembered at homeJames (Jimmy) Conlin remembered at homeJames (Jimmy) Conlin remembered at homeJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photoJames (Jimmy) Conlin additional photo

War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

Creative Commons License

We have made this information and the images available under a Creative Commons BY-NC license. This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement: © coatbridgeandthegreatwar.com

Comments
Jimmy was also my Gran, Elizabeth's Dad. My Gran remembers him and her Mum as a very glamorous couple. Unfortunately, the demon drink helped lead to his downfall in his footballing career. Very tragic.
Elaine Ckark, WOKING , 13/06/2020 10:23PM
James Conlin was my great grandad, his daughter was my gran. This is an amazing site so important to keep the memories of our relatives those who died for their country alive
Nikki Simmons, Motherwell, 08/01/2019 8:39PM

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