Pte
James Archibald McPhee
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 02/02/1884 |
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Place of birth: Mile End, Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Journeyman / House Painter |
Army information
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Country: Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 76233 |
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Enlistment place: Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), 16th Bn. (Chatsworth Rifles) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 03/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Venheule Farm, Saint-Julien, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 33 |
Cemetery
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Track X Cemetery Plot: Unknown Row: E Grave: 2 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 1
| #1 | Enlistment place |
My story
Private James Archibald McPhee served in the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment) 16th Battalion, which was part of the 117th Brigade, of the 39th Division.
James McPhee’s Battalion took part in the first stages of the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 2nd of August 1917 the 117th Brigade was to take over the 39th Divisional Front. The 16th Battalion Sherwood Foresters relieved the 13th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment in and behind the village of Saint-Julien. The Battalion Headquarters was based at Venheule Farm. During the process of relief, Venheule Farm was directly hit by a German shell, killing and injuring 30 men and three officers.
On the following day “A” and “B” Companies were heavily shelled in their dugout positions. Both Companies suffered heavy casualties. Their position became untenable, due to the constant shelling and “A” Company had to withdraw to Camphor Trench and “B” Company pulled back to California Drive, while two of its platoons were sent up to reinforce positions in Saint Julien.
Private James Archibald McPhee was killed in action on the 3rd of August 1917. He possibly fell due to the heavy German shelling on that day. He lies buried on Track X Cemetery.
James McPhee’s Battalion took part in the first stages of the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 2nd of August 1917 the 117th Brigade was to take over the 39th Divisional Front. The 16th Battalion Sherwood Foresters relieved the 13th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment in and behind the village of Saint-Julien. The Battalion Headquarters was based at Venheule Farm. During the process of relief, Venheule Farm was directly hit by a German shell, killing and injuring 30 men and three officers.
On the following day “A” and “B” Companies were heavily shelled in their dugout positions. Both Companies suffered heavy casualties. Their position became untenable, due to the constant shelling and “A” Company had to withdraw to Camphor Trench and “B” Company pulled back to California Drive, while two of its platoons were sent up to reinforce positions in Saint Julien.
Private James Archibald McPhee was killed in action on the 3rd of August 1917. He possibly fell due to the heavy German shelling on that day. He lies buried on Track X Cemetery.
Sources 1
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16 Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment): for Apr 1918... , (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2587/1 ). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Further reference |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/157556 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=f0df7c44-7cea-4510-9df6-04249b18c78f |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/2862691 |