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James Edward Thomson cap badgePrivate James Edward Thomson

1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry
Service No: 8092

James Edward Thomson grave

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Click here for a frameable A4 print
Personal details

Family Information

Son of William and Mary Ann Buchanan Thomson. From the 1891 Census - Address - 6 School St, Coatbridge - William Thomson aged 36, Mary Ann Thomson aged 36, Gavin Thomson aged 12, Alex B Thomson aged 10, Janet M Thomson aged 7, William Thomson aged 6, John B Thomson aged 3, James Thomson aged 11 months. From the 1901 Census - Address - 231c Dundyvan Rd, Coatbridge - William Thomson aged 46, Mary Ann Thomson aged 46, Gavin Thomson aged 22, Alexander Thomson aged 19, Janet Thomson aged 17, William Thomson aged 16, John B Thomson aged 12, James Thomson aged 10, Charlotte Thomson aged 6, Buchanan Thomson aged 3. William's Pension was awarded to his father William of 14 Boyd St, Largs, Ayrshire and his sister Janet c/o Mrs A. Miller of 187 Main St, Holytown.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 21 Coltswood Rd, Greenhill, Coatbridge

Died

Killed in Action on the 11/03/1915 at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle

Enlisted

Hamilton 1914

Employed

(No data. If you have details, please add a comment)

Age

30

Buried / Remembered

Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais (Panel 37 and 38), France.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The Le Touret Memorial commemorates over 13,400 British soldiers who were killed in this sector of the Western Front from the beginning of October 1914 to the eve of the Battle of Loos in late September 1915 and who have no known grave. Almost all of the men commemorated on the Memorial served with regular or territorial regiments from across the United Kingdom and were killed in actions that took place along a section of the front line that stretched from Estaires in the north to Grenay in the south. This part of the Western Front was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting of the first year of the war, including the battles of La Bassée (10 October – 2 November 1914), Neuve Chapelle (10 – 12 March 1915), Aubers Ridge (9 – 10 May 1915), and Festubert (15 – 25 May 1915). Soldiers serving with Indian and Canadian units who were killed in this sector in 1914 and 1915 whose remains were never identified are commemorated on the Neuve Chapelle and Vimy memorials, while those who fell during the northern pincer attack at the Battle of Aubers Ridge are commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.

Additional Information

James and the Battalion were in Ambala, India in August 1914 and were part of the 9th (Sirhind) Brigade in the 3rd (Lahore) Division. They moved to France via Egypt, landing at Marseilles on the 01/12/1914 (some weeks after the other Brigades of the Division). From the 10th – 13th March 1915: the Battle of Neuve Chapelle,10th – 13th March 1915 : British First Army mounts first offensive on large scale: costly in terms of casualties but results in capture of Neuve Chapelle. Localised operations continue afterwards. Neuve Chapelle was the first large scale organised attack undertaken by the British Army during the war. It followed the miserable winter operations of 1914-15. More Divisions had now arrived in France and the British Expeditionary Force was now split into two Armies. Neuve Chapelle was undertaken by Sir Douglas Haig’s First Army, while subsequent actions were fought by Sir Herbert Smith-Dorrien’s Second Army. British First Army mounts first offensive on large scale: costly in terms of casualties but results in the capture of Neuve Chapelle. James is listed as E. James Thomson with the CWGC. This is also how he is also remembered on the Le Touret Memorial. See photos for James' Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration, his Headstone Report, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his Pension Records x 4, the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge, Neuve Chapelle in ruins after the Battle and captured German prisoners guarded by British soldiers at Neuve Chapelle, March 1915.

Photos
James Edward Thomson Medal Index CardJames Edward Thomson newspaper clippingJames Edward Thomson newspaper clippingJames Edward Thomson newspaper clippingJames Edward Thomson remembered at homeJames Edward Thomson remembered at homeJames Edward Thomson remembered at homeJames Edward Thomson remembered at homeJames Edward Thomson additional photoJames Edward Thomson additional photoJames Edward Thomson additional photoJames Edward Thomson additional photoJames Edward Thomson additional photo

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