275435 L/Cpl
7th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 154th Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division
Age: 19
Date of Death: 20.9.17
Buried: Dozinghem Military Cemetery VII.C.15 https://www.theypressalient.com/post/dozinghem-military-cemetery
Family history: Son of John and Elizabeth Honeyman, 9 Wilsons Buildings, High Street, Falkirk. He had two sisters and a brother. He was employed as a moulder at Callendar Iron Works working alongside his father and older brother. He enlisted in the local Territorial battalion on 15 April 1914 aged 17 and went with the battalion to France in December 1914. He saw action on the 25 April at St Julien when the battalion suffered heavy causalities. James was reported as under age on 28 September 1915 however, he was found to be fit enough to stand the strain of active service and permitted to stay with the battalion. He was wounded on 29 May 1916 and rejoined his battalion on 16 December 1916.
The action leading to his death
154th Brigade were allocated the task of securing a satisfactory ‘jumping off’ place for an attack on Poelcappelle, and to secure positions in the valley of the Steenbeek from which artillery could cover the attack. Two objectives were selected, the first being the dotted Blue Line, the line of the Stroombeek continued in a northwest direction to Delta Huts. The final objective, the Blue Line, was line through Quebec Farm, Bavaroise House, Church Trench, Delta House.
The plan of attack was that the two leading Battalions, 9th Royal Scots and 4th Seaforth Highlanders should take as far as the Blue dotted line; the 7th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and 4th Gordons to then pass through to capture the final objective. Both the Gordons and Argyll’s suffered heavy casualties when caught up in the fighting around Pheasant Trench. ‘D’ company of the 7th Argyll’s also suffered heavy casualties from shell-fire when advancing from the old British front line.
The 7th Argyll’s reached the Blue Line after having overcome, chiefly by means of rifle grenades, Flora Cot, Quebec Farm, and Bavaroise House, capturing 30 prisoners, four machine-guns, of which one was turned on the Germans. The Blue Line was thus consolidated, as had been intended, as far as Rose House, and the line then bent round towards White House.
James died of a gunshot wound to the back that penetrated his chest.
Headstone
Medals Awarded:
1915 Star, The British War Medal, Victory Medal.
