Swan J B Pnr 1975 9th Royal Scots
SWAN, JAMES BLAIR, Pioneer, No. 1975, 1/9th Battn. Royal Scots (Highlanders), yst. s. of David Swan, of 21, Sloan Street, Leith, by his wife, Helen, dau. of Robert Fairweather; b. Ballark House, Nairn, 19 Aug. 1893; educ. Leith; was a Joiner with Drysdale & Son, Leith; joined the Royal Scots on the outbreak of war, 11 Aug. 1914; trained at Edinburgh; went to France, 23 Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at Chapelle d’Armentières, 15 July, 1915; unm. 2nd Lieut. H. M. Wardrop wrote: He was killed up here in the trenches while putting up barbed wire in front of the reserve trench. He was in the act of driving in a post when a stray bullet grazed his rifle and entered into his back, passing right through him. He suffered no pain, as he never regained consciousness and passed away just as we got him into the dressing station. We laid him to rest at 9.15 p.m. the next night and his body was carried to the little cemetery (at Chapelle d’Armentières) about three-quarters of a mille behind the trenches by four of his old comrades in the same section and platoon as he was before he went to the Brigade Pioneers; his body being covered with the Union Jack. As his platoon officer I had a very high opinion of him, for he was a most useful man all round. It was because of this that he was transferred to the Brigade Pioneers, where he continued to do excellent work.” His brother, Private George Swan, was killed in actionat the same place, 18 Oct. 1914 (see previous notice).
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1
Hi, I work in a school in Edinburgh We’ve just discovered a bit of engraving on a window which says “James Swan, D Coy, 9th Highlander, R.S. 24th January 1915”.
We believe it may be this James Swan. The school was used to accommodate troops from 1914-1919 but we have never known much more than this so finding the engraving has caused a lot of excitement!