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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Clackmannanshire => Topic started by: Craig Semplis on Tuesday 14 October 14 00:05 BST (UK)
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Hello fellow Rooter's, I'm hoping to find info about a Gt Uncle who died in WW1. James Clarkson was born in Clackmannashire in 1880, and died of wounds aged 36 received at the Somme July 1916, buried at Southern Calais Cemetary. I visited Scotland earlier this year having found nothing of his name on Clackmannan memorials, was advised to check out Tillicoultry which also beautiful and peaceful still made no mention of him. Am I looking in the wrong place for some recognition of the sacrifice he and the other two uncles gave. Any help would be most appreciated regards Craig Semplis
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Hi Craig.
James may have been born in Clackmannanshire, but which town please?
And where was he living prior to his WW1 service. His location at 1911 census would be a help.
Looby
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http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com
Theres this site too.
Ady
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Hi .
Posting details for James -
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/470901/CLARKSON,%20JAMES
ev
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Just to add he Enlisted in Edinburgh.
Ady
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There's less chance of him featuring on a local memorial if he hadn't lived in that locality for many years or there was no remaining family that could respond to an appeal for names to be submitted when a memorial was being planned. A little more context might provided some pointers.
Imber
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Hello Craig,
Is this your G. Uncle and his family?
1891 Scotland Census. Ladywell Cottage, Inverkeithing, Fife.
John Clarkson 32 Carter b Carmichael, Lanarkshire.
Elizabeth Clarkson 33 Wife b Dollar, Clackmannanshire.
Hugh P Clarkson 11 Son b Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire.
James Clarkson 9 Son b Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire.
William Clarkson 8 Son b Dollar, Clackmannanshire.
Elizabeth Clarkson 6 Dau b Culross, Perthshire.
Marion M Clarkson 3 Dau b Inverkeithing, Fife.
John Clarkson 2 Son b Inverkeithing, Fife.
Lewis Clarkson 4mon Son b Inverkeithing, Fife.
1901 Scotland Census. Drumcross Rd, Bathgate, West Lothian.
John Clarkson 40 Road Foreman b ??? Lanarkshire.
Elizabeth Clarkson 41 Wife b Dollar, Clackmannanshire.
Elizabeth Clarkson 16 Dau b Culross, Perthshire.
Mary Clarkson 14 Dau b Inverkeithing, Fife.
John Clarkson 12 Son b Inverkeithing, Fife.
Lewis Clarkson 10 Son b Inverkeithing, Fife.
Andrew Clarkson 8 Son b Inverkeithing, Fife.
Grace Clarkson 4 Dau b Edinburgh, Midlothian.
A possible for James?
1901 England Census. The Barracks, Caterham, Surrey.
James Clarkson 19 Soldier. Private, Grenadier Guards b Scotland.
In 1911, Lewis is based at same place but with The Scots Guards.
The family have moved around a bit & don't seem to have had any connection with Tillicoultry for years. I think the Bathgate/West Lothian War Memorials might be worth checking. I live near Inverkeithing in Fife so will pop along today to check there.
Good luck with your search.
Regards, Dod.
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Well done Dod ;)
There is a Cpl J Clarkson G. Gds on the Bathgate War Memorial.
No other Clarksons listed so if his brothers (other uncles mentioned by Craig?) died they are not there.
http://warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com/warmemscot-ftopic2766.html
Looby
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Hello Craig,
Found this on ScotlandsPeople - Soldiers' Wills. www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
17542 Clarkson, James. Guardsman, 4th Bn Grenadier Guards. Died of Wounds 18/07/1916.
Searching & viewing Index is free. To View Will (3 Pages) needs 10 Credits. (30 Credits = £7)
Or you can buy Will for £2.50.
My Grandfather's Soldiers' Will gave my Grandmother's name & address. You could be lucky enough to find an address which would give you an idea of where to look for a War Memorial.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Dod.
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Hello loobylooayr,
Well done to you too. I'll still have look at Inverkeithing but I think you've found the right J Clarkson especially if he enlisted in Edinburgh. I'd expect someone in Fife to enlist in Fife.
Best Regards, Dod.
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Have you checked his Medal Record Card or Service Record? He got the Military Medal?
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Hello deebel,
Yes. Medal Rolls Index Card
James Clarkson, Grenadier Guards. Rank: Guardsman. Regimental No: 17542.
Decorations: Victory Medal. British War Medal. 1915 Star & the Military Medal.
I'm sure the Military Medal was awarded for something like bravery under fire. Other
rootschatters will know more about the MM.
Regards, Dod.
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Hello to Everyone who was kind enough to not only reply but offer advice or check stuff for me as I'm a bit of a donut when it come to most interweb stuff, I mostly use it for posting photos on FB - So you can all put a face to my great uncle heres a photo of him as a guardsman. thankyou thankyou for all your help best regards Craig semplis
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To those who found some details for me, the W Lothian area is where my Gt Uncles ended up, I once found an image of his rent book for a cottage nr Bathgate or Uphall. My other uncle was gassed in WW1 and tho my Nanna gave few details of her Brothers? she did say his breathing was laboured the rest of his life and his skin had a jaundeced look to it, and it angered the family as he had to appear before a panel every so often to prove he was elligable be able to get a disability persion. I think he died early in WW2 maybe 1942.
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To Lobby,Ecks,Imber,MMM45, if I could give more info I would not quite knowing what u would need, I have always wanted to know what he got the MM for BUT I was told that citations in WW1 r rare unless for V Cross or ur an officer. where does it say he joined in Edinburgh? or did I miss something? my nanna said the were in Addiewell before moving to King Street? in late 30's early forties, but I found some about James being in Uphall. Its hard to know what questions to ask sometimes. But I want to take this time to thank you for all ur help anyway regards Craig.
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Hi Craig,
No need to apologise, you can only relate what info you have.
I would tend to think that your James is the man commemorated on the Bathgate memorial. There was only one J Clarkson of the Grenadier Guards died in WW1 according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commision. Only niggle is that he is listed as a Private, yet the inscription on the memorial is for Corporal??
As for finding out more about his war record - maybe asking to have this thread posted to the WW1 board and getting advice from a military expert might be beneficial .
Looby :)
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Hi
Probably displaying my ignorance now but his cap badge doesn't look like Grenadier Guards to me, and then there's the spurs and sword. Being totally pedantic now I thought the term Guardsman didn't replace Private until after the war, or have I got all that wrong?
Imber
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Hello Craig,
Enlisted Edinburgh comes from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919.
James Clarkson.
Birthplace Clackmannan, Scotland.
Death Date 18 Jul 1916.
Death Place France & Flanders.
Enlistment Place Edinburgh.
Rank GDSN.
Regiment Grenadier Guards.
Battalion 4th Battalion.
Regimental No. 17542.
Type of Casualty Died of Wounds.
Theatre of War Western European Theatre.
I came across an old thread on Rootschat (WW1 MM???) which had some useful information including this link, http://www.thegazette.co.uk
Click on Awards & Accreditation (Purple Button)
Click on WW1 notices (Purple Toolbar under 'The Gazette' Logo)
To save searching through a lot of records, enter Pte. J Clarkson in the box under Text search.
Date: 01/08/1914 - 01/01/1919.
This should bring up 2 Newspapers relevant to your James Clarkson. 'The Edinburgh Gazette' (Issue 12947, Page 1014) published 5th June,1916 & 'The London Gazette' (Supplement 29608, Page 5588) published 2nd June,1916, both carrying lists of names of people who had earned Awards & Medals etc.
Click on View Page to see the list. Entry with both papers reads:
17542 Pte. J. Clarkson, 4th Bn., G. Gds.
Click back 2 pages (Page 1012, Edinburgh Gazette. Page 5586, London Gazette) you'll see the heading: Awarded the Military Medal. (Can be downloaded as a PDF document)
So, same James Clarkson, Regimental No:17542. Guardsman on Soldiers Died in the Great War & Private on Military Medal award.
James' brothers, John & Lewis, enlisted early 1900s at Linlithgow. Might be worth checking War Memorials in that area but I still think the Bathgate War Memorial is likely to be him. Mistakes were often made on these. My friend,s father is listed on the Milnathort Memorial although he survived WW1 & died 1960s. His name was listed instead of his brother.
Hope the above helps.
Regards, Dod.
PS. Could also try this link www.1914-1918.net the Long, Long Trail website again mentioned on the thread WW1 MM??? started by sharren1837.
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To all who have helped me my dad is going to give me some more info in case i've missed parts in the meantime I attended the Remembrance Ceremony at Whitehall last sunday and said a few prayer's for my family and all who served
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Well done for attending the ceremony, Craig.
Did you have any more thoughts about the photo? I'm certain that's not a Grenadier.
Imber
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To those members who went out of their way to help me in my personal quest to find my Great Uncle name recorded on a Memorial I finally got over the border the weekend of the 'weather bomb' and sure enough found his name and sacrifice detailed on The Bathgate memorial, though it failed to note he was awarded The Military Medal, the fact he is among all those other sons of Scotland who are remembered for me is comfort enough to have found him. Thank you very much indeed for your kindness I still hope to be able to add more in the future and in July 2016 will travel to visit his grave.