The life and death of Lance-Sergeant James Barclay in World War 1 was the subject of speaker Tom Ward, a military historian with an interest in battlefield archaeology, at a recent meeting of Largs Probus Club. James’s family had kept his diary, letters and records and were happy for Tom to use them to give James a new lease of life.
Tom advised that James was born in Stewarton in 1896 and signed up in 1914 when he was only 17, to his father’s dismay. He drew the Army’s attention to James being underage which led to him being sent to Signalling School in Rumbling Bridge near Dalkeith. He excelled there and was kept on teaching signalling, and he became a proficient marksman and a keen footballer. This led to his promotion to the rank of Corporal and a posting to Chelmsford before being sent to France in 1918 with the 1/4th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. As a battalion signaller, Barclay would have been busy at the front laying field telephone cables from battalion HQ back to brigade and forward to company HQs in their assembly trenches; checking and repairing lines under shellfire, as breaks were constant in this heavily bombarded sector, and issuing and testing signal lamps, flags, and heliographs.
Tom concentrated on James’ participation with the 52nd (Lowland) Division during the Canal du Nord offensive in late September 1918. On 27th September at 05:00 a massive British barrage fell on the concrete German trenches and the 156th Brigade led the assault, with the 155th Brigade, including the 1/4th Royal Scots Fusiliers, in a supporting role. James advanced with other Signallers just behind the leading infantry, carrying reels of wire on frames, laying lines across no-man’s land, into the canal cutting, and up the enemy bank where they were prime targets for snipers and machine guns. Once the crossing was secured, the battalion moved into the newly won trench systems where James and others established battalion HQ communications with brigade and flanking units and worked almost continuously repairing breaks from German counter-bombardments. On 29th September, the division continued advancing toward Cambrai with the Signallers laying new wire along every move forward—dragging heavy reels through mud, shell holes, and ruined trenches. James’s diary ends here as he was killed on 1st October 1918 when assaulting the road to Cambrai. His name appears on the memorials at Vis-En-Artois and Stewarton.
Bernard Rafferty thanked Tom for his presentation on the life of James Barclay and referred to his own involvement in picking the threads of history through his grandfather’s war experiences.
Unfortunately, I cannot find any information about James on the internet. If you are intrested in the life of a signaller, then follow this link.
Why not join us at our next meeting?
New members are always welcomed at the Club. If you are 50 or over, retired, or nearing retirement, (men only, I’m afraid, sorry ladies) you can attend three meetings as a guest and find out what a relaxed and friendly time we have. That’s plenty of time to decide whether to become a Club member or not. Please check out our programme and email info@largsprobus.org.uk if you wish to attend as a guest, or to enquire about joining.
Largs Probus Club will next meet in the Willowbank Hotel on Wednesday 17th September at 10am when Jane Evans will speak on her role of Deputy Lord Lieutenant.