Pte
James McMullan
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1896 |
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Place of birth: Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Labourer |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 26005 |
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Enlistment date: 03/08/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — The Prince of Wales’s Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment), 2nd Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 05/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Lake Farm, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 21 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 37 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
Private James McMullan was part of the 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales’s Volunteers), 75th Brigade, 25th Division. On the 1st of Augustus 1917 the Battalion relieved the 2nd Scottish Rifles and held a line in support tot he 8th South Lancashire Regiment that extended from a point about 507 meters west of Ziel House to the Ypres – Roulers Railway. This line was badly damaged by shellfire and had to be rebuilt. The position that the British held was of strategic importance to the Germans and was heavily shelled, causing heavy casualties and causing the ground to turn into a quagmire.
On the 5th of august the Regiment was relieved and withdrew about 7 p.m., moving via Birr Cross Roads and Menin Gate through Ypres to Swan Chateau. They arrived shortly arter midnight. The War Diary writes that all rocks were exhausted and plastered with mud. Private James McMullan was reported killed in action on the 5th of Augustus 1917. Although not impossible, it's more likely that he was killed by shell fire while holding the line the 5th (or the days before) than on the march to Swan Chateau, as the War Diary does not not casualties on the 5th. Due to the confusing situation at the front, his death might only be discovered when the Regiment was at rest at Swan Chateau.
On the 5th of august the Regiment was relieved and withdrew about 7 p.m., moving via Birr Cross Roads and Menin Gate through Ypres to Swan Chateau. They arrived shortly arter midnight. The War Diary writes that all rocks were exhausted and plastered with mud. Private James McMullan was reported killed in action on the 5th of Augustus 1917. Although not impossible, it's more likely that he was killed by shell fire while holding the line the 5th (or the days before) than on the march to Swan Chateau, as the War Diary does not not casualties on the 5th. Due to the confusing situation at the front, his death might only be discovered when the Regiment was at rest at Swan Chateau.
Sources 4
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com/ Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1622333/mcmullan,-james/ Sources used |
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H. Whalley -Kelly, Ich Dien : the Prince of Wales's volunteers (South Lancashire)1914-1934, 1935, 44-45. Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ Sources used |