Private James (Jimmy) Walker

Private James (Jimmy) Walker

9th (Service) Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
Service No: S/4300

1153

0

4

0

75

Click here for a frameable A4 print

Personal details

Family Information

Son of James and Jessie Walker of 77 Burnbank Rd, Coatbridge. Brother of Private David Walker (S/4299) of the 9th (Service) Battalion Black Watch who was also Killed in Action on the same day as James, the 25/09/1915, the opening day of the Battle of Loos. He was listed as a Prisoner of War but this was proven inaccurate. See Newspaper clipping (5) from the Enquiry Department for Prisoners of War. Private George Buchanan Arnott (S/4298) also of the 9th (Service) Battalion Black Watch who resided with the family and worked with the brothers as well as enlisting with them was wounded and gassed at Loos alongside them. He Died of Wounds on the 28/06/1916 the day after he received them. From the 1901 Census - Address - 10e2 Coltswood Rd, Coatbridge - James Walker aged 36, Jessie Walker aged 29, David Walker aged 9, Mary Walker aged 7, James Walker aged 6, Jessie Walker aged 4, John Walker aged 2. James and his brother David's Pensions were awarded to their mother Jessie and their father James.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 77 Burnbank Rd, Coatbridge

Died

Killed in Action on the 25/09/1915 on the opening day of the Battle of Loos

Enlisted

Baird Hall, Coatbridge 03/09/1914

Employed

Locomotive Fireman in Kipps Locomotive Works

Age

20 Buried / Remembered

Loos Memorial (Panel 78 to 83), Pas de Calais, France

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who have no known grave, who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay, from the first day of the Battle of Loos to the end of the war. On either side of the cemetery is a wall 15 feet high, to which are fixed tablets on which are carved the names of those commemorated. At the back are four small circular courts, open to the sky, in which the lines of tablets are continued, and between these courts are three semicircular walls or apses, two of which carry tablets, while on the centre apse is erected the Cross of Sacrifice.

Additional Information

The Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 08/07/1915 and were part of the 44th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. James was Killed in Action on the opening day of the Battle of Loos, 25th September – 15th October 1915 : The first genuinely large scale British offensive action but once again only in a supporting role to a larger French attack in the Third Battle of Artois. British appeals that the ground over which they were being called upon to advance was wholly unsuitable were rejected. The battle is historically noteworthy for the first British use of poison gas. Here is the Order of Battle, 25/09/1915 - 08/10/1915 : Gas release to be made along Divisional Front from 5.50am with Zero hour set for 6.30am. In the first instance, Brigade to secure the German front-line area known as, ‘The Jews Nose’, and then press on to secure the enemy’s second line east of Loos village. Once these objectives had been captured, surviving troops were to press on and secure Hill 70. The Brigade was to attack with 9th Black Watch right and 8th Seaforth Highlanders left, both supported by 7th Cameron Highlanders. 10th Gordon Highlanders were to be held in reserve. 24/09/1915 Brigade to assembly trenches. "A" Company vanguard. 25/09/1915, 5.50am Gas release commenced followed by smoke release. Germany artillery responded immediately fearful of a British attack. At that time the wind changed, and the lethal gas blew back on the troops mustering to go ‘over the top’ at 6.30am, causing significant casualties and confusion. At the appointed time, the Battalion went into the attack and carried its initial objectives under heavy fire, suffering further significant casualties. By 8.30am, troops had begun to assault Hill 70, and later in the day attempts were made to press on to Cite St. Auguste and Dinamentiere. 26/9/1915 Battalion relieved at 1am, and fell back on Mazingarbe, where the roll was called. Twenty-two officers and six hundred and eighty other ranks failed to answer, having been either killed, wounded or taken prisoner. SEE PHOTOS x 11 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY SEPTEMBER 1915. Scottish Regiments lost a huge amount of brave men at Loos. Here is a list of Infantry Battalions who lost more than 500 men at the Battle of Loos from 25/09/1915 to 16/10/1915 - 7th Cameron Highlanders 687, of which 19 Officers, 9th Black Watch 680, of which 20 Officers, 6th King’s Own Scottish Borderers 650, of which 20 Officers, 10th Highland Light Infantry 648, of which 20 Officers, 7th King’s Own Scottish Borderers 631, of which 20 Officers, 8th Devons 619, of which 19 Officers, 8th Royal West Kents 580, of which 24 Officers, 8th Buffs 558, of which 24 Officers, 12th Highland Light Infantry 553, of which 23 Officers, 8th Black Watch 511, of which 19 Officers, 5th North Staffordshire 505, of which 20 Officers, 8th Seaforth Highlanders 502, of which 23 Officers. The 2 brothers and George Arnott worked together, lived together, enlisted together and fought together. There was 1 digit between all their service numbers. They brothers were 2 of 99 men from the Coatbridge Memorial who fell during and from injuries from the Battle of Loos. See Directory for James' brother David and their friend George Arnott's pages. James is also remembered on the Maxwell Parish Church, East United Free Church and the Kipps Memorial Rolls of Honour (along with his brother David and their friend George Arnott - see photos). See photos for James' Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping x 5, James' and his brother David's names on the Loos Memorial, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Loos Memorial Panel List, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, James' and his brother David's Pension Records x 4 and the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) Cap Badge. Finally, see photos x 6 for Newspaper clippings (Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 4 and Coatbridge Express x 2) and photos of a wreath placed at Loos Memorial in July 2023 remembering ALL the men who left from the Iron Burgh who are named there and one of myself at the Black Watch Panel where James and his brother David are listed top right. SEE PHOTOS x 13 FOR THE 15th (SCOTTISH) DIVISION BOOK ON THE 25/09/1915 and SEE PHOTOS FOR 33 PAGES FROM THE MOST UNFAVOURABLE GROUND BOOK REGARDING THE BATTALION and DIVISION 25/09/1915 (fantastic book on the Battle of Loos kindly signed by the author Niall Cherry).

Photos

War Diaries

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

Creative Commons License

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