The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

Keptie

On 18th February 2016 I received an email from Lt Col Roger J Binks, keeper of the rolls & secretary to the Trustees SCOTTISH NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL the Castle Edinburgh informing me that the casualty

GDSM 6461 JAMES MCHARDY BIRSE , Scots Guards who died on 8th November 1918 has been accepted as a death in War at the SNWM in Edinburgh . His name will be added in due course

Gdsm Birse had joined the Scots Guards in 1906 and served til 1913 and then re engaged from April 1914 and was off to war and was badly wounded 5 wounds to his shoulder and his clavicle seriously shot up when in YPRES on 25th October 1914 in action and taken POW and it seems due to his serious wounds EXCHANGED prisoner back to Scotland and issued with a SILVER WAR BADGE . He had been a Dundee Postman before the war started and he died in Dundee on 8th November 1918 not seeing the end of the War of 1914-1918 ..

Cant find him as yet on any war memorials in Dundee and not on the Dundee city archives war memorials index either .

Pleased to hear that Lt Col Roger J Binks has accepted Gdsm 6461 James McHardy BIRSE , Scots Guards to the roll of honour for the Great War - Scots Guards

(Patrick W Anderson

Adam Brown · Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 9:03 am Post subject:

Good news Pat. Thank you for sharing it.

Kind regards

Adam

anne park

Name James Mchardy Birse
Estimated Birth Year abt 1888
Age 21
Spouse Age 20
Record Type Marriage
Event Date 12 Apr 1909
Parish St Paul, Lorrimore Square
Borough Southwark
Father Name John Cable Birse
Spouse Father James Alfred Coyle
So maybe away from Scotland...
Name James Birse
Age in 1911 23
Estimated Birth Year abt 1888
Relation to Head Head
Gender Male
Birth Place Dundee, Scotland
Civil parish Battersea
County/Island London
Country England
Street Address 3 Alfred Street, Battersea
Marital Status Married
Occupation ARMY PRIVATE
Registration district Wandsworth
Registration District Number 26
Sub-registration district East Battersea
Short Service:Name James McHardy Birse
Gender Male
Birth Date abt 1888
Birth Place Dundee, Forfar
Marriage Date 12 Apr 1909
Marriage Place St Mary Newington London
Age 18
Document Year 1906
Regimental Number 6461
Regiment Name Scots Guards
Form Title Short Service Attestation
_________________
Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 2:43 pm Post subject:

Well done Pat!

For info.

Postmen—Henry Thomas Baker (Colchester),
James MacHardy Birse (Dundee),

The London Gazette
Publication date:2 December 1913 Issue:28778Page:8902
The Edinburgh Gazette
Publication date:5 December 1913 Issue:12622Page:1337
_________________
Ken

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 4:01 pm Post subject:

Good work Pat.

dalblair · Joined: 26 Aug 2010 Posts: 564 Location: coupar angus

An article in the Courier indicates that his wife,living at 15 Annfield St,Dundee was advised of his wounds and imprisonment in Germany.Father,John,tailor,living next door at 16 Annfield St.
James was apparently an athlete and holder of the Novices cup at Thistle Harriers Club as well as an instructor with the 8th Boy Scouts.

It is very odd that he is not commemorated on the Dundee Post Office memorial.Might need to make enquiries with the Post Office,It may be that he resigned before enlisting but even so....

Keptie

The Courier - Craigie section had my story in its page on Wednesday 2 march 2016 ; SNWM omission and the female editor covered most of my emailed story covering 9 paragraphs some longer ones than others so a good write up of Guardsman 6461 James McHardy Birse , Scots Guards of 16 Annfield St Dundee , a Dundee postie and recalled to the Colours for 1914 war being immanent.

Patrick W Anderson