The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

apanderson · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 4:15 pm Post subject: Sergeant Major James Esson

Found a wee article in the Falkirk Herald of 9th March 1918:

"Died of Wounds
News has just reached Denny that Company Sergeant Major James Esson has died of wounds in Germany. Sergeant Major Esson was taken prisoner a few months ago, just when he was on the point of leaving for England to take his commission. He resided in Broad Street, Denny, and was employed at one of the local coal pits prior to his taking up wrestling as a profession."

I can't find anything about this man - any takers/suggestions?

Anne

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 5:49 pm Post subject:

Anne - I "googled" professional wrestler james esson and got a photo on flickr of James Esson of Aberdeen.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2536798194/

I also got this http://boards.ancestry.myfamily.com/surnames.esson/42/mb.ashx

the last part of which reads
Esson died of wounds in a POW camp during the First World War. A photo taken of this handsome, muscular gentleman with a trophy he had won can be found in the September 1999 issue of "Scottish Memories."

But I cannot find him on military records - Served under an Alias?
_________________
Ken

apanderson · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 6:29 pm Post subject:

Great find Ken - thank you!

I tried everything else 'apart' from just Googling him!

Strange that there's nothing to be found on his military career though. Confused

Anne

anne park

My thoughts were more Aberdeenshire than Aberdeen quite a few were born in Aberdeenshire Crathie/Ballater area maybe Highland Games connections?

Alexander Esson L/cpl S/22581 6th Gordon Highlanders born St Machar enlisted Aberdeen Age 18 Killed in Action F & F 11-Apr-18 Son of Mr & Mrs Esson, 71 Dunbar St; Aberdeen. 1901 Census: Linksfield Cottage, Links. Mother: Maggie. City Roll of Honour. MI Trinity Ext. Son of Alexander. Brother James also died. Loos Memorial M. R. 19 Panel 115 to 119 City Memorial

Alfred Esson L/cpl 269 1st Gordon Highlanders born Aberdeen enlisted Aberdeen Killed in Action F & F 27-May-15 City Roll of Honour : 1 Canal Pl; Aberdeen. Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres M. R. 29 Panel 38 City Memorial

James Esson Pte 14725 12th Black Watch born Whitehills, Banff. enlisted Edinburgh Age 37 Died of Wounds F & F 01-Jun-17 Son of Robert and Elsie Esson, of 6, Livingstone Place, Edinburgh. Native of Banffshire. 12th Bn. transf. to (2558) 5th Coy. Labour Corps. Formerly 24419, R. Scots. Trois-Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck Fr 0297 Plot I Row M Grave 12

James Ross Esson Dvr L/4402 98th Royal Field Artillery B Bty born Aberdeen enlisted Aberdeen residence Aberdeen Age 25 Died of Wounds Salonika 20-Feb-17 Son of Mr & Mrs Esson, 71 Dunbar St; Old Aberdeen. 1901 Census: Linksfield Cottage, Links. Mother: Maggie. Date 14th. MI Trinity Ext. : Son of Alexander Esson. Brother Alexander also died. Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, Greece G 07 Grave 808 St Machars Memorial

John Esson Pte 30374 13th Royal Scots born Ballater enlisted Glencorse,Midlothian residence Dunbar Age 34 Died of Wounds F & F 10-May-18 Son of John & Mary C Esson, Silver St House, Dunbar, East Lothian. Born Aberdeenshire. Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez Fr 0924 Plot XIV Row F Grave 22 Dunbar Memorial

Louis (Lewis) Esson Pte 8/2366 8th/10th Gordon Highlanders born Ballater enlisted Aberdeen Age 33 Died of Wounds F & F 01-Feb-17 Son of Mrs E Esson, Golf Rd; Ballater, Aberdeenshire. 1901 Census 201 En Dis 6: Page 11 Entry 56 Lewis: Baker's App age 15. Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension Fr 0177 Plot IV Row H Grave 11 Ballater Memorial
Robert Esson Pte 758 2nd South African Field Amb born Boyndie 25/04/1872 Age 44 Died Kenya 18-May-16 South African Medical Corps. 1881 Census Son of James & Catherine (nee Goodbrand) Esson, Salmon Fisher's House. 1891 Census Occ Salmon Fisher. Husband of C. Esson, 59 Hatt St; Forest Hill, Johannesburg. Voi Cemetery, Kenya Keyna Plot I Row A Grave 12 Boyndie Memorial

Robert McBeath Esson Pte 7106 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers born Keith enlisted Edinburgh residence Leith Age 22 Died of Wounds F & F 09-May-15 Son of Robert and Elsie Milne Esson, of 6, Livingstone Place, Edinburgh. Native of Fordyce, Banffshire. 1901 Census: 88c Mid Street; Keith. Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension Fr 0285 Plot II Row A Grave 88 Keith Memorial
Thomas Scott Esson Pte 925989 5th Canadian Inf (Saskatchewan Regt) born Glasgow 25/12/1898 enlisted Weyburn, Sask. Age 27 Killed in Action F & F 15-Aug-17 Son of the late Robert Esson, Woodside Cottage, Glassel, Kincardineshire. Date maybe 15/16th. NoK: Miss Annie Esson, Clark, Dinnet (Sister) Occ: Farmer: address Rushton Sask. Vimy Memorial M. R. 23
William Esson L/cpl 290401 7th Gordon Highlanders enlisted Banchory Age 26 Killed in Action F & F 23-Apr-17 Son of James & Jane Esson, Viewington, Ballater, Aberdeenshire. Arras Memorial M. R. 20 Panel 8 & 9

William Esson Pte 512 7th Gordon Highlanders born Crathie enlisted Banchory Age 23 Killed in Action F & F 04-Aug-16 Son of the late Robert Esson, Morven Villa, Torphins, Aberdeenshire & the late Margaret Esson. Native of Crathie, Aberdeenshire. Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt Fr 0188 Plot I Row B Grave 60 Ballater Memorial
William Esson Pte 512 7th Gordon Highlanders A Coy born Crathie enlisted Banchory Age 23 Killed in Action F & F 27-Nov-17 Son of the late Robert Esson, Morven Villa, Torphins, Aberdeenshire & the late Margaret Esson. Native of Crathie. Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt Fr 0188 Plot I Row B Grave 60

William George Esson Gnr 366536 Royal Garrison Artillery born Ballater enlisted Aberdeen Killed in Action F & F 07-Oct-18 City Roll of Honour: 41 St Swithin St; Formerly 228 City of Aberdeen Fortress R E. Sauchy-Cauchy Communal Cemetery Extension Fr 0429 Row A Grave 4 City & Mannofield Church Memorial

William Philip Esson Sjt 76161 10th Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regt born Corgarff 31/08/1883 enlisted Aberdeen residence Strathdon Age 35 Killed in Action F & F 19-Sep-18 Son of Jessie Philip wife of the late James Milne, Inveravon, Strathdon. Educated Strathdon. Occ: Tram Driver.City Roll of Honour: 164 Union Grove. Husband of Helen Stephen Rennie. Father of Isobel M Esson, Invereran, Strathdon. Roll of Honour: Vol V : Page 55. Vis-En-Artois Memorial M. R. 16 City Corgarff & Strathdon Memorial

William R Esson L/cpl 290401 7th Gordon Highlanders B Coy enlisted Banchory Age 26 Killed in Action F & F 23-Apr-17 Son of James & Jane Esson, Viewington, Ballater. Tullich MI Entry 1. B Coy. Arras Memorial M. R. 20 Panel 8 & 9

apanderson · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 1:31 pm Post subject:

Thanks very much for all that info Anne.

I had gone through all the various Essons from Aberdeen on Ancestry, but without knowing any more details than I had already found, 'our' James could have been one of dozens. I didn't realise that Esson was quite as common a surname as it appears to be in the Aberdeen area.

Hopefully something will eventually turn up to verify who he was.

As Ken said, he may have served under an alias and usually CWGC lists this too, but not, it seems, for any of the J. Essons listed.

I did find a wee snippet to say he had died of wounds in a German Prisoner of War Camp, but all the info so far has been found on internet sites, and if one just copied another - it might have no basis whatsoever.

Anne

anne park · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 4:29 pm Post subject: James Esson, Aberdeen

I will try and ask at the Local Studies, Central Library, Aberdeen.
They might hold some newspapers articles about him.

anne park

Born 21 November 1890. So this is what I have in my database now... James Ross Esson Dvr L/4402 98th Royal Field Artillery B Bty born Aberdeen 21/11/1890 enlisted Aberdeen residence Aberdeen Age 25? Died of Wounds Salonika 20-Feb-17 Son of Mr & Mrs Esson, 71 Dunbar St; Old Aberdeen. 1901 Census: Linksfield Cottage, Links. Mother: Maggie Crofts. Also details 3 Urquhart Rd; Aberdeen. date 14th. MI Trinity Ext. : Son of Alexander Esson. Brother Alexander also died. Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery, Greece G 07 Grave 808 St Machars

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Anne A

He didn't die in Germany but this might be him.

Shown as James Esson, Acting Sergeant, b Aberdeen, e Manchester, res Stalybridge in other sources

ESSON, J
Rank: Driver
Service No: T4/250988
Date of Death: 15/12/1917
Regiment/Service Army Service Corps
3rd Coy. 20th Div. Train

Grave Reference 16.
Cemetery LIEGE (ROBERMONT) CEMETERY

Additional Information:
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

spoons · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 8:12 pm Post subject:

The last named is listed on the Stalybridge war memorial.

Also, have you seen this? http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/ABERDEEN/2005-06/1119387224

\Paul

apanderson · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 8:18 pm Post subject:

My good pal Mark has also been on the case and has come up with the following:

Regarding James Esson, here is a possibility but could be wrong. Trawl of the internet suggests he was born in Aberdeen so;

SDGW
Name: James Esson
Birth Place: Aberdeen
Residence: Stalybridge
Death Date: 15 Dec 1917
Death Location: France & Flanders
Enlistment Location: Manchester
Rank: A/Sergeant
Regiment: Royal Army Service Corps
Number: T4/250988
Type of Casualty: Died of wounds
Theatre of War: Western European Theatre

Dies of wounds towards the end of 1917 and shows as acting sergeant.

ESSON, J
Rank: Driver
Service No: T4/250988
Date of Death: 15/12/1917
Regiment/Service:Army Service Corps 3rd Coy. 20th Div. Train
Grave Reference16.
Cemetery: LIEGE (ROBERMONT) CEMETERY
Additional Information:

On CWGC listed as driver ? Buried in Liege, Belgium - which was in German hands until the end of the war.

He resided at Stalybridge and he is on the Stalybridge War Memorial under
R A Service Corps
Coy Sgt Major J Esson

His MIC has him A/Sgt (not sure what the remarks section means though.

Looking more and more like the correct person!

Anne Very Happy

P.S. Thanks for that link Paul - I hadn't found that one amongst the hundreds of others!!

apanderson · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 8:30 pm Post subject:

I think the only connection to Denny might have been through him working in one of the local pits.

I can't find him in the 1911 Census living in Denny or Dunipace, so possibly was a 'newcomer'

Anne

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

This is the man I advised already.

apanderson · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 11:59 pm Post subject:

I would have thought it was the other way round Jim - moving from Staybridge to Denny as his this is where I found the newspaper article?

He's not on any Denny memorials which leads me to think he wasn't particularly well known nor had anyone in the area to put his name forward for inclusion.

There's many local men NOT listed on any of the memorials for reasons we'll probably never know.

Anne

anne park

Does anyone out there want to update his history?

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire