23092 Private
17th Battalion Royal Scots, 106th Infantry Brigade, 35th Division
Age: 23
Date of Death: 29.9.18
Buried: Tyne Cot Memorial Panel 11 to 14
Family history: Son of Mrs Jessie Mill, Main Street, Brightons, Polmont. His two brothers were also serving George in the Royal Scots and John in the Labour Corps. Before he enlisted James was employed as a miner at Manuelrigg Colliery.
He enlisted on 4 June 1915 and was posted to the training battalion depot from there he was posted to France on 17 September 1915 joining the 12th Reinforcement Battalion. He was sent back to the UK on 24 November 1915 suffering from Trench feet. He returned to France on 3 February 1916 and went to the 12th Reinforcement Battalion and here was posted to the 5th Entrenchment Battalion attached to the 1/9 Royal Scots. He was wounded in action, receiving a gun shot wound to the right hand, on 21 October 1916 and sent back to the base hospital at Rouen and then to the UK. He rejoined the 62nd Reinforcement to the 2nd Battalion on 25 February 1917 and was then posted on 14 March to the 17th Battalion, Royal Scots. He was wounded again on 6 September 1917 in the right ankle and was treated at 106 Field Ambulance and rejoined the 17th Royal Scots on 22 September 1917. He enjoyed a period of home leave in the UK from 26 February 1918 to 12 March 1918.
The action leading to his death
The battalion, as part of 35th Division, was involved in what became known as the ‘Advance to Victory’ with the opening day of the allied offensive in Flanders on 28 September 1918. The battalion was in support at Alaska House Ridge on the left flank of the 18th Battalion Highland Light Infantry (HLI). They remained here until the afternoon of the 29 September when the Battalion, as part of 106th Brigade, were to advance in support of the 105th Brigade’s attack on Zandvoorde and to support them in capturing the Tenbrielen - Blegnaert Farm line and then pushing on towards Werviq, the battalions formed up with 18th HLI on the right, 17th Royal Scots on the left and the 12th HLI in reserve.
(Linesman Map)
The War Diary records that the Battalion had advanced through Zandvoorde and with its right flank on the Zandvoorde - Tenbrielen Road began to meet heavy shell and machine gun fire. The advance was checked however, with the cooperation of fire and movement they moved forward. It was during this attack that James was killed.
His mother received a letter from the Battalion Chaplain who wrote:
A member of his platoon also wrote to his mother, L/Cpl James Crawford wrote:
Medals Awarded:
1915 Star, The British War Medal, Victory Medal.
