James Wittet Imrie

Private James Wittet Imrie

S/2908 Private

9th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, 44th Infantry Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division.

Age: 2 Date of Death: 9.7.17

Buried: Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery IV.G.9

Family history: Son of John Imrie from Perth. James was the husband of Alice and they lived at 28 Furnace Row, Kinneil with their two children. He was employed as a miner by the Kinneil Coal Company.

He enlisted on the 29 August 1914, in the 9th Battalion Gordon Highlanders, which was created from an amalgamation of surplus personnel from the 8th Battalion and a large draft from the depot. Formed in Aberdeen in September 1914. They were converted to Pioneers in January 1915 and went to France with the division in July 1915. Pioneer Battalions were created as an expedient in 1914, and were a new concept in the British Army. Intended to provide the Royal Engineers with skilled labour and to relieve the infantry from some of its non-combatant duties. The Pioneers became the work horses of the BEF.

He landed in France on 9 July 1915, and he fought with the Battalion at the Battle of Loos, the Somme and Arras.

The action leading to his death

The Battalion was engaged in repairs and maintenance of the trenches and communication trenches known as Haymarket and Piccadilly at Cambridge Road, near Potijze. This was dangerous work as they were under artillery fire. James died of wounds received at the Field Ambulance located in Vlamertinghe.

Ypres League map showing Haymarket and Piccadilly trenches

The War Diary records the Work Report for the Battalion on 9 July 1917.

Medals

1915 Star, The British War Medal, Victory Medal

Private James Wittet Imrie, Pioneer Battalion Gordon Highlanders, Medal Index Card

Headstone

Private James Wittet Imrie. Authors image