WW1 Casualty: Private 21367 James McDonald - Private 21367 James McDonald
Prescot Reporter 27/07/1916
| Unit/Regiment |
11th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment |
| Date of Death |
01/07/1916 |
Age at Death |
33 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Thiepval Memorial
Pier and Face 7A and 7B |
| CWGC Family Details (if shown) |
Address at enlistment:
86 Kemble Street,
Prescot. |
| Census Details |
1891 - 8 years old 'Scholar' James is living at Elm Cottage, Knowsley Road, St Helens with parents James (32), Margaret (36) and three siblings: Elizabeth (10), John (6), Thomas (4).
Lodging at the address is Patrick Clement (33).
1901 - 18 years old 'Fish Staw???' James is living at 75 Prescot Road, West Derby with parents James (42), Margaret (45) and three siblings: Elizabeth (20), John (16), Thomas (14).
James's nephew Joseph Boyle (3) is staying at the address.
1911 - Not found. |
| Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations |
Marriage:
19/09/1905 James McDonald to Catharine Courtney at Old Swan, Liverpool. (West Derby)
Vol 8b - Page 951
James and Catherine had two children: Margaret b- 10/02/1908 and Mary b- 15/05/1910. |
| SDGW - Where Born |
St Helens, Lancs |
| Enlisted |
Prescot |
| Resided |
Prescot |
| How Died |
Killed in Action |
Theatre of War |
France & Flanders |
| Research Ref. No. |
P197 |
Service DetailsThe 11th (Service) Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment was formed in September 1914 from the third contingent of volunteers called for by Lord Kitchener.
Initial training took place on Salisbury Plain and in early 1915, the Battalion became a 'Pioneer' Battalion with the 30th Division. It had been decided that each of the New Army divisions should have an extra battalion included in its establishment to carry out road-making and other semi-technical work frequently called for in the field. The 11th Battalion was known as the 'St Helens Pioneers' in honour of the fact that the majority of the men came from St Helens.
The Battalion finally left for France in November 1915, disembarking at Le Havre on the 7th. The Battalion strength was 30 officers and 1,007 other ranks.
They served for the remainder of 1915 in the Somme Valley, carrying out work in the trenches. They suffered a few casualties, mainly to German snipers, but otherwise their first few weeks in the field proved uneventful.
In the Spring and early Summer of 1916, the Battalion were heavily involved in preparations for the forthcoming Somme offensive. As a Pioneer Battalion, this was an exceptionally busy time.
On 1st July, at the commencement of the Battle of the Somme, 30th Division were tasked with the capture of Montauban, with the initial assault taking place at 7.30 a.m. This was done by 2.45 p.m. and the Battalion were hard at work creating communications trenches forward through to the German front line. Three of the planned 4 trenches were completed by the fourth was abandoned due to extremely heavy German shelling, which inflicted heavy casualties.
In addition, large numbers of men were hit by German machine gun fire as they went over the top in support of the assaulting infantry.
It is not clear at which point Private McDonald was killed. His body was never identified after the battle and his name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
The Parish Magazine of 22nd July 1916 reported 'Four more of our townsmen have been reported Killed in Action', and included 'Pte. McDonald of the 11th South Lancashire, aged 33, of 28, Kemble Street. He leaves a widow and 2 young children'.
James McDonald's Medal Index Card, which is a poor quality scan, shows his entitlement to the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal
James McDonald's inscription on the Thiepval Memorial
Picture taken 21/02/2011
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