Private James Lauriston (Laurieston)

Private James Lauriston (Laurieston)

1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders
Service No: 7003

1635

1

4

1

28

Click here for a frameable A4 print

Personal details

Family Information

Son of James and Mary Nicol Lauriston. Husband of Sarah McCredie Neilson Lauriston (03/04/1879- ) of 18 Alexander St, Coatbridge. They had 2 children, Margaret (18/09/1909- ) and James (16/01/1911- ). James' younger brother Private Thomas Lauriston (8993) of "C" Company, 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion Highland Light Infantry fell on the 29/09/1918 just over 4 years after his brother. Thomas was married to Mary Lauriston and had 2 children, James and Thomas. From the 1891 Census - Address - 15 Quarry Rd, Airdrie - James Lauriston aged 37, Mary Lauriston aged 36, Maggie Lauriston aged 12, James Lauriston aged 9, John Lauriston aged 7, Archibald Lauriston aged 5, Thomas Lauriston aged 3, William Lauriston aged 1. From the 1901 Census - Address - 45 Cairnhill Rd, Airdrie - James Lawriston aged 48, Mary Lawriston aged 46, Maggie Lawriston aged 22, Archie Lawriston aged 15, Tom Lawriston aged 13, William Lawriston aged 11, Peter Lawriston aged 6, Nicol Lawriston aged 3. James' wife Sarah was awarded his Pension on the 03/06/1915. His brother Thomas' wife Mary of 8q High St, Airdrie was awarded his Pension on the 24/04/1919.

Born / Resided

Airdrie / 18 Alexander St, Coatbridge

Died

Killed in Action on the 14/09/1914 at the Battle of the Aisne

Enlisted

Glasgow 1914

Employed

Coatbridge Post Office / Reservist

Age

32 Buried / Remembered

Chauny Communal Cemetery British Extension, Aisne, France

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The Extension was made after the Armistice for the burial of remains brought in from the battlefields of the Aisne and from the smaller cemeteries in the surrounding countryside. There are just over 1,000, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. The majority of them died in 1918; most of the rest died in September, 1914. Included the total figure are 6 soldiers of the United Kingdom whose identity had been established with reasonable, but not absolute certainty and who are commemorated by special memorial headstones bearing the superscription 'Believed to be', and 26 soldiers of the United Kingdom and 5 of Canada whose graves could be identified collectively but not individually and who are commemorated by special memorial headstones bearing the superscription 'Buried near this spot'.

Additional Information

James and the Battalion arrived at Le Havre as Army Troops on the 14/08/1914. On the 05/09/1914 they were part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division. James was Killed in Action during the The Battle of the Aisne exactly 1 month after arriving in France. The Battle, 12th – 15th September 1914 : The advance northwards from the Marne is halted as the Germans dig in along the heights above the River Aisne. British attacks are repelled and both sides dig in: for the British, the Aisne was the root of trench warfare. From the personal diary of Captain C. J. Paterson of the 1st South Wales Borderers (3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Division, I Corps) : Monday 14th September, 1914 - “As there is only one road by which the whole 1st Division can push on, it takes some time and we get orders not to move to 9am. At about 8 it is discovered that the bridges over the River Aisne have been so damaged that we cannot even move at 9, and as a matter of fact we move at 2pm. When we do move it is not for very long. We crossed the river with shells dropping around us. The Germans have destroyed most of the bridges and are shelling or trying to shell the ones they have left, hoping to catch us on them. However, we cross and line a ridge to the north of Bourg. The Cavalry pushes out and we billet in Bourg. Find a very nice house in which a good dinner and to bed on the floor with Homfray. I refused to spend another night sitting up and say so plainly. Another mail arrives with several letters for me. Very nice. Orders to move at 5am". The surnames of the 2 brothers are spelt differently on their Headstones and both are listed as Lauriston on the Coatbridge and Airdrie Memorials. Main Grave photo donated by Mick McCann at the britishwargraves.co.uk. There are just over 1,000, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in the Chauny Communal Cemetery British Extension. The majority of them died in 1918; most of the rest died in September, 1914. Included the total figure are 6 soldiers of the United Kingdom whose identity had been established with reasonable, but not absolute certainty and who are commemorated by special memorial headstones bearing the superscription 'Believed to be', and 26 soldiers of the United Kingdom and 5 of Canada whose graves could be identified collectively but not individually and who are commemorated by special memorial headstones bearing the superscription 'Buried near this spot'. James is also remembered on the Coatbridge Technical College and Middle United Free Churches Rolls of Honour (see photos). James was buried in Chauny Communal Cemetery British Extension. His name was originally on the La Ferte Memorial (see photos for burial form, family verification form and La Ferte Memorial Panel List). See photos for James' Medal Index Card, his brother Thomas' name on the Airdrie Memorial, the Airdrie Memorial, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, another photo of James' Grave, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Chauny Communal Cemetery British Extension, the Cameron Highlanders Cap Badge, his Pension Records x 3, James' brother Thomas' Grave at Pigeon Ravine Cemetery, Epethy, France, Thomas' Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Pension Record x 2, a photo of his resting place at Pigeon Ravine Cemetery, Thomas' Medal Index Card, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2 and the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge. Finally a photo of Thomas' Battalion during a physical training game at Ghyvelde on the 06/08/1917. Thomas arrived in France on the 07/04/1915 with the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry. He transferred to the 9th (Glasgow Highlanders) Battalion and they were part of the 100th Brigade, 33rd Division when Thomas fell at the Battle of the St Quentin Canal, 29th September – 2nd October 1918. This was part of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line, 12th September – 12th October 1918 : A series of very large scale offensive operations that advance to and break the Hindenburg Line system. Carried out by the First, Third and Fourth Armies these victories rank among the greatest-ever British military achievements. The German Army fights on but it is increasingly clear that their ability to do so is declining fast. Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and United States Divisions all play key parts.

Photos

James Lauriston (Laurieston) Medal Index Card

James Lauriston (Laurieston) newspaper clipping

James Lauriston (Laurieston) remembered at home

James Lauriston (Laurieston) additional photo

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Comments

This is my great great grandfather, thanks for the information
Nicola fallon, Coatbridge , 10/12/2019 3:48PM

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