The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

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

James Esson served for four years with 1st Gordons and saw service in SA 1901-2 with the rank of Cpl.

He married a widow, Ethel Eliza Clay in December 1911. They lived at Lockside, Stalybridge. He served as T1802 ASC (T) and was embodied in June 1915 and posted as Acting Sgt. He had the rank of Acting CSM ( unpaid ) from 5th May 1916 to 14th October 1916.

A/ Sgt Esson landed at Havre in July 1917 . There is extensive internal correspondence, and with his widow, regarding this man's rank but it is clear from offficial records he reverted to Acting Sgt in October 1916 on being transferred, long before he was posted missing and a POW on 30th Nov 1917.

He died of heart failure (GSW wounds to shoulder and chest) at the Fortress Hospital Leige at 7.00 am on 15th December 1917 having been moved there from Le Cateau POW Hospital earlier that day. He was buried at Robermont Cemetery on the 19th.

The confusion regarding his rank will have existed at the time of the news item, explaining why it and the memorial are wrong.
_________________
Jim

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

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

anne park · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 8:49 am Post subject: Still looking for info

One thing that I am wondering about the family on Robert's (James's brother) attestation paperwork it says address of father Ballyclaire, Co Antrim, Ireland.
NoK given in the local papers was Mother Mrs R Esson.
The more you know the more you want to know about the family.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:36 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure that there is a connection (apart from the surname) but the Saskatchewan Virtual War Memorial http://svwm.ca/casualty-display/?ID=A000001765 lists 2 Essons one of which is Thomas Scott Esson Pte. 925989 5th CIF Died 15/8/1917. His father is identified as Robert Esson of Glassel, Aberdeenshire. On his attestation papers his NoK is sister Annie of Clarak Dinnet (sic) Aberdeenshire
_________________
Ken

apanderson · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 1:45 pm Post subject:

Isn't this turning out to be absolutely intruiging and great fun!

I think Robert Esson was the brother of James - between stuff that Anne found (shipping records etc) and things that I found - it looks to be too much of a co-incidence that they weren't.

I've got some wee bits and pieces to add to all my notes, but once complete, I'll add a precis onto this thread.

Anne - do you have a copy of James' Birth Registration and if so, can I have a copy please.

Jim - do you have a copy of the 1901 and/or 1911 Census Returns and if so, can I have copies please.

Ken - haven't found a connection to a Thomas ........ YET!

Anne Laughing

apanderson · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:57 pm Post subject:

The following is a summary in date order of James Esson's short life:

1885 October 18th, Born at Peterculter, son of Robert Esson & Ann Simpson
1899 Arrives in France to take part in Highland Games, Paris International Exposition
1891, April 6th, Census. Family living at St. Peter’s Terrace, Peterculter.
1901, April 1st, Census. Family living at 192 Broad Street, Denny
1901 – 1902, Served with 1st Gordon Highlanders in South Africa (Age 15-16)
1908 Win Lonsdale Challenge Cup at Alhambra, London
1909, November 10th, Arrives in New York from Queenstown, Ireland, lists nok as mother Mrs. R. Esson, 6 Broad Street, Denny
1909, December 18th, Chicago Athletic Association, Chicago, Illinois. Wins fight against ‘Mysterious Conductor’
1909, December 14th, Chicago Colliseum, Chicago, Illinois. Wins fight against Jim Gavin
1910, January 1st, Chicago Colliseum, Chicago, Illinois. Wins fight against Frank Gotch
1910, February 9th, Chicago, Illinois. Wins fight against Charles Cutler
1910, February 12th, Chicago Athletic Asociation, Chicago, Illinois. Fight against Pat Connolly, winner unknown
1910, February 14th, Chicago Colliseum, Chicago, Illinois. Wins fight against Raoul de Rouen
1910, February 23rd, Chicago, Illinois. Wins fight against Emil Klank
1910, February 28th, Chicago Colliseum, Chicago, Illinois. Loses World Heavyweight Title to Frank Gotch
1910, March 19th, Chicago Athletic Association, Chicago, Illinois, Loss fight against Charles Cutler
1911, December 23rd, Married Ethel Eliza Clay at Liverpool (Age 26)
1913, November 28th, Paris, Ille-de-France, France. Wins fight against Jack Johnson
1914, July 24th, Arrives in Mitchigan (to join brother Robert Esson), lists nok as Wife Ethel Eliza Esson, Stalybridge
1914, November 18th, Montreal, Canada. Wins fight against Ben Roller
1914, December , Arrives in U.S. from Canada, occupation Wrestler, lists nok as wife Ethel Eliza Esson, Stalybridge
1915, March, Arrives in U.S. from Canada, occupation Wrestler, lists nok as wife Ethel Eliza Esson, Stalybridge
1915, May 28th, Arrives in Liverpool from U.S., occupation Westler. address: Lockside, Stalybridge
1915, June 16th, Attested at Manchester, ASC (Age 29 years 8 months)
1917, December 14th, Died on gunshot wounds at Le Cateau P.O.W. Hospital
1917, December 19th, Buried at Robermont Cemetery, Liege
1918, March 9th, Obituary in Falkirk Herald

Anne

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

He died at Liege Fortress Hospital of heart failure linked to GSW on 15th December having been moved there from Le Cateau on the same date.

Will send Census info to you direct.
_________________
Jim

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

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

apanderson · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:51 pm Post subject:

I read the above as he died at Le Cateau on the 14th, his remains were taken to Liege on the 15th where he was subsequently buried at Robermont?

His date of burial appears somewhere else on his records which I can't pinpoint just now.

Thanks for the 1911 Census image, I look forward to seeing it and adding another wee date of the time-line.

Anne

apanderson · Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 11:57 pm Post subject:

Found the bit I was looking for:

Anne

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

anne park · Boer War Medals for Paardeberg 18 Feb 1900 Belfast 13 Nov 1900

Boer War Medals for
Paardeberg 18 Feb 1900
Belfast 13 Nov 1900

anne park

Name: James Esson
Age: 19
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1882
Gender: Male
Where born: Scotland

Civil parish: Aldershot Military in Stanhope and Wellington Lines
Ecclesiastical parish: Aldershot St Michael
County/Island: Hampshire
Country: England
Third Gordon Highlanders Imperial Yeomanry

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 4:44 pm Post subject:

Just a week ago Anne wrote:
I can't find anything about this man - any takers/suggestions?

Looking back over the three pages I'm astonished at what's been found.
Well done everyone _and I have a feeling you're not done yet. Wink

_________________
Ken

anne park

I managed to look at The Scotsman but today could not find a way into The Times does anyone out there have the know how?

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

apanderson · Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:50 pm Post subject:

I noticed the discrepancies too Jim, but the balance seems to sway more on the 'for' side than on the 'against'.

Mark sent me his Gordon Highlander records earlier today and the thing that struck me immediately was that he went from being 5 feet 8 1/2 on that to 6 feet 3 3/4 ins on his ASC records. He also pointed out that to be eligible for the Paardeberg Clasp, he would have to have been in South Africa before the 26th February 1900. (He didn't arrive in Africa until May 1901).

The height difference could obviously put down to a a spurt in growth if this is definately the same person as when he originally attested, he would have been 14 years and 3 months of age (not 18 years and 3 months).

I have no knowledge about medals and entitlements etc., so I'm not going to try and get my head round that at the moment.

I'm going to have to leave Jimmy alone for the rest of the weekend as my wee brain is frazzled (more than usual!!)

As Ken said a couple of posts back - what an amazing amount of info has been uncovered and in such a short space of time.

Thank you very much everybody - I could never have found out a fraction of any of this on my own.

Anne Very Happy