James Law

 James Law

Most of the details confirmed about James are from his surviving military record and the 1901 census, the volume of men of this name hides other identifying facts. He was born around 10th September 1895 in Rayne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1901 his family were living at House Kirktown, Rayne. His father Alexander was working as a Traction Engine Driver and his mother, Isabella, was looking after five sons aged between eight years and ten months, James was the third eldest.

On 9th January 1916 James attended an army recruitment facility in Aberdeen under the Derby Scheme. He attested, was medically examined and chose to defer his service to await call up, at this time he was single, working as a farm manager at Petty Farm, Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, he named his father as next of kin who was living at Lochside, Rayne. Posted to Army reserve 'A' he returned home with a day's army pay in his pocket and a grey armlet bearing a red embroidered crown to wear on his upper arm to show he had volunteered.

Derby Scheme Armlet

James was recalled in December 1916 and joined 42nd Training Reserve Battalion on the 9th. During 1916 an overhaul of army basic training was undertaken and instead of recruits being posted to a Regiment and trained by their reserve Battalions the existing training units were transfered to a Reserve specialising in Infantry training. 42nd TR Battalion had formerly been 11th (Reserve) Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders based at Bridge of Allan, Stirling, Scotland. 42nd TR was part of 9th Brigade, recruits with the three Scottish TR Brigades wore a Gregarry hat rather than the service cap and instead of a Regimental badge wore a general service button on a red background, 9th Brigade also wore kilts and hose. Basic training normally took 12 weeks but James was posted after only eight weeks to the Machine Gun Corps on 11th February 1917.

Until the end of 1915 heavy machine guns were held by Battalions who had specialist men to man the guns, it was decided these weapons would be more effectively used if deployed on a Brigade basis and the Machine Gun Corps was developed. The guns, both Vickers and Maxim were withdrawn from Battalions and replaced with the lighter Lewis Gun, the Maxim was gradually phased out and replaced by the Vickers. Training for the MGC Infantry took place at Belton Park near Grantham and involved theory in the classroom, practical work in respect of not only the weapon but the loading and unloading of General Service Wagons and drill specific to the role. Thomas completed his training and because of his previous experience on the farm with horses was qualified as both a machine gunner and horseman/driver. Thomas was posted to 230th Machine Gun Company which was formed in Egypt and on 24th April 1917 he embarked from England to join them.

The primary duty of British forces in this region was the defence of the Suez Canal which was the main artery of communication and supply from the south east. The canals loss would have been a major blow to the Allies especially on the Western Front and German led Ottoman forces occupying Palestine had commenced offensive action in 1915 through the Sinai Desert. In addition hostile Arab groups were organised to attack the British along the Egyptian Coast from the west. The defence of the canal was taken to the Eastern Bank of the canal to a depth to keep the canal traffic safe and operations mounted to push the Ottomans back. During 1917 and 18 a third offensive was pursued to firstly take the Ottoman held City of Gaza, three seperate battles were fought resulting in the fall of the city in November 1917. The drive east continued with the capture of Jaffa, southern Judea and Jeruselem, during 1918 the EEF went on the defensive as manpower was taken for the Western Front. A final push in September 1918 resulted in the destruction of three Ottoman Armies and the capture of 76,000 soldiers. Negotiations at Mudros concluded on 30th October 1917 resulting in an Armistice to take effect from noon the following day, the war in the East was over.

Sinai from Suez Canal to Palestine

Thomas landed at Alexandria on 1st June 1917 and on joining his unit was involved in the actions through Palestine apart from some hospitalisation for what was finally diagnosed as Malaria. He was in an unnamed facility from 26th September to 16th October 1917 and then on 28th November he was admitted to 45th Stationary Hospital from where he was evacuated to 31st General Hospital at Port Said. He spent Christmas 1917 at the MGC Base Depot at Helmia camp in Cairo before rejoining his unit.

In May 1918 the Machine Gun Companies were organised in Battalions of three Companies, 230th Company moved to 75th Battalion of 75th Division, Thomas was in B Company.

Thomas was again sent to hospital on 13th October 1918 with Malaria and remained away from the front until the end of hostilities in the region. On 21st February 1919 he sailed from Alexandria to the UK on troop ship Volumnia. Back in the UK he was sent to No 1 Dispersal Centre at Kinross in Scotland and was demobilised to Class Z Reserve on 11th March 1918. With no return to hostilities the Class Z Reserve ceased to be needed and was abandoned, Thomas was finally discharged from the army on sometime in 1920.

Thomas was awarded the British War and Victory Medals for his service and returned to live in Aberdeenshire.