Pte
James McIntyre
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 16/05/1893 |
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Place of birth: St. Ninians, Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Police Constable |
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Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 812 |
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Enlistment date: 27/08/1914 |
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Enlistment place: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
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Units: — Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 08/05/1915 |
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Place of death: Bellewaerde Ridge, Zonnebeke, 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: 10 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
James McIntyre was born in 1893 in St Ninians, Stirling, Scotland to Robert and Letitia McIntyre. James worked as a police officer before enlisting in Ottawa, Ontario, in August 1914. With his experience as a police officer, he was exactly what the Canadian army was looking for. He was recruited by the Princess Patricia's Light Infantry, the last privately formed regiment in the British Empire. The Patricias were assigned to the 27th British Division. At the end of the year, 20 December 1914, James embarked for France from south Hampton. He was hospitalised at Boulogne sur Mèr on 23 January 1915 after which he was discharged a week later.
In early April 1915, the division relieved French troops around Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, east of Ypres. During the Second Battle of Ypres, German attacks on their left flank made their positions untenable. On 3 May, they were forced to take up new positions on the Bellewaerde ridge. With the Germans on their tail, the new trenches were hastily dug. There was barely time to construct a parados or parapet. In early May 1915, the Germans launched another attack on Ypres. The main blow was struck at the Patricias positions, near Bellewaerde. When the Germans broke through, the road to Ypres lay open. On 8 May, shells rained down on the Patricias, which suffered heavy losses. The situation became dire and the line was reinforced with every man who could carry a weapon. Reinforcements were sent into the trenches to fill the gaps after which the German advance was finally slowed and checked. 8 May 1915 would result in 93 dead, 79 missing and 203 wounded soldiers, in addition 10 officers also lost their lives or were wounded. A few days earlier, on 4 May, the Patricias moved into the line with 650 men.
James died in battle on 8 May 1915. He was buried in a common grave with 109 comrades near the positions on Bellewaerde Ridge, all of whom had been killed between 4 and 9 May 1915. Sometime later, the cemetery fell into German hands. Shortly afterwards, the ridge was lost to the Germans. James McIntyre has no known grave to date and is commemorated on the Menin Gate.
In early April 1915, the division relieved French troops around Polygon Wood, Zonnebeke, east of Ypres. During the Second Battle of Ypres, German attacks on their left flank made their positions untenable. On 3 May, they were forced to take up new positions on the Bellewaerde ridge. With the Germans on their tail, the new trenches were hastily dug. There was barely time to construct a parados or parapet. In early May 1915, the Germans launched another attack on Ypres. The main blow was struck at the Patricias positions, near Bellewaerde. When the Germans broke through, the road to Ypres lay open. On 8 May, shells rained down on the Patricias, which suffered heavy losses. The situation became dire and the line was reinforced with every man who could carry a weapon. Reinforcements were sent into the trenches to fill the gaps after which the German advance was finally slowed and checked. 8 May 1915 would result in 93 dead, 79 missing and 203 wounded soldiers, in addition 10 officers also lost their lives or were wounded. A few days earlier, on 4 May, the Patricias moved into the line with 650 men.
James died in battle on 8 May 1915. He was buried in a common grave with 109 comrades near the positions on Bellewaerde Ridge, all of whom had been killed between 4 and 9 May 1915. Sometime later, the cemetery fell into German hands. Shortly afterwards, the ridge was lost to the Germans. James McIntyre has no known grave to date and is commemorated on the Menin Gate.
Sources 3
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150; Volume: Box 6906 - 13). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War diaries: Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4911, Microfilm reel number: T-10703, File number: 346 ). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War Graves Registry: Commonwealth War Graves (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC): RG150, 1992-1993/314, Box 39-244; Box: 102). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1594188 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=18a66ec7-996b-4649-9765-a23b2e395027 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1594188 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5633108 |