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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: orkrad on Wednesday 26 July 17 03:20 BST (UK)
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Greetings from New Zealand
James Mc Leish was my grandad born 1875 died 1929 in Greenock Scotland. He served with 3/5 territorial battalion ( Princess Louise's Argylls ) attached to the Black Watch for Scottish Coastal operations
When I contacted the Argyll and Sutherland archives a few years ago they stated that this battalion was a reserve battalion and probably never left the Uk on active service. Family stories have James as a PTSD victim and suffering from mustard gas exposure. How can we find out the truth We do not have his medals ( long since gone) or his id number. I did find on Ancestry a while ago a medal number for Private James Mc Leish S/26054 with entitlement to Victory and British medals . I may or may not have the correct man . Can anyone help?
Regards Orkrad
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He served with 3/5 territorial battalion ( Princess Louise's Argylls )
Where has the information about his Battalion come from ?
There's also this James McLeish:
James McLeish
Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders), 253944
Army Ordnance Corps, 042888
I mention him because transferring to the AOC may have put him on Coastal Defences.
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I have a photo of the 3/5ths taken at Finnart Drill hall in Greenock. My man is at the rear wielding a huge cook's knife
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No doubt there is there.
This is what the LLT says about them:
3/5th, 3/6th, 3/7th, 3/8th and 3/9th Battalions
Formed at home bases around April 1915 and moved to Ripon later in the year.
8 April 1916 : renamed as Reserve Battalions at Ripon.
1 September 1916 : 5th absorbed all the other Bns. Moved to Galashiels in May 1918 where it remained as part of the Forth Garrison.
I think that bearing in mind his age he may not have served overseas but stayed in the 3/5th. for the duration.
Being part of the Forth Garrison would have put him on coastal defences.
Although you say his medals have "long since gone" how confident are you that he had medals for overseas service.
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Hi there
In my ignorance I just presumed that everyone who served ( in whatever capacity) was awarded a medal or medals .
Regards Orkrad.
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With the absence of a service record the only remaining avenue is the Absent Voter's list for 1918 if you know his home address at that time as that will give his no. & Regt.
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Thanks again Jim 1 for that suggestion. I have a subscription to Find My Past but again cant find my ancestor. Apparently the only Scottish records are for Linlithgow and he came from Greenock Renfrewshire. The search continues......
Orkrad