Gravestone of Gunner JAMES BRYAN at LA TARGETTE BRITISH CEMETERY, Neuville-St. Vaast, Pas de Calais, France.

JAMES BRYAN, Gnr 110715, 258th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, is NOT named on the Larkhall War Memorial.

JAMES is named on a family gravestone in Larkhall Cemetery.

His mother, Marion Meikle or Bryan was born in Larkhall on 29th April, 1865, - hence the Larkhall connection.

The family gravestone indicated that JAMES was a grandson of Andrew Meikle and Mary Wilson. It also names his cousin ANDREW MEIKLE as their grandson, who Died of his Wounds on 1st April, 1920, age 23. 

JAMES was born at 32 Burnbank Terrace, Hamilton, on 10th August, 1891.

His parents were John Bryan, a Master Shoemaker, and Marion Meikle who were married at Mavisbank, Newton, Cambuslang, on 23rd September, 1890.
His paternal grandparents were James Bryan, a General Labourer, and Margaret Dunbar.
His maternal grandparents were Andrew Meikle, a Journeyman Joiner, and Mary Wilson.

The 1901 BURNBANK, HAMILTON, Census was taken on 31st March, 1901.
The family are listed at 69 P.O. Buildings, Burnbank, Hamilton, as follows:
John Bryan, age 40, Shoemaker, b Gatehouse, Kirkcudbright.
Marion Bryan, age 35, Wife, b Larkhall.
JAMES BRYAN, age 9, Son, Scholar, b Hamilton.
Andrew M. Bryan, age 8, Son, Scholar, b Hamilton.
MATTHEW M. Bryan, age 6, Son, Scholar, b Hamilton.
Mary W. Bryan, age 1, Daughter, b Hamilton.
Marion Meikle, age 62, Mother-in-Law, b Quarter.

The 1911 BURNBANK, HAMILTON, Census was taken on 2nd April, 1911.
The family are listed at 85 Glasgow Road, Burnbank, Hamilton, as follows:
John Bryan, age 50, Bootmaker, b Gatehouse, Kirkcudbright.
Marion Bryan, age 45, Wife, Shopkeeper, b Larkhall.
JAMES BRYAN, age 19, Son, Apprentice Printer, b Hamilton.
Andrew M. Bryan, age 18, Son, Coal Miner, b Hamilton.
MATTHEW M. Bryan, age 16, Son, Colliery Office Clerk, b Hamilton.
Mary W. Bryan, age 11, Daughter, Scholar, b Hamilton.

 

JAMES was employed as an Apprentice Printer at The Hamilton Advertiser.

JAMES enlisted on 10 Aug 1916 in Hamilton and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery as Gunner 110715, and served with 258th Siege Battery.

JAMES 'Died of Wounds' on 26th April, 1917, age 26, at 8th Canadian Field Ambulance.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) entry for JAMES shows that he is buried at LA TARGETTE BRITISH CEMETERY, NEUVILLE-ST. VAAST, Pas de Calais, France.

LA TARGETTE BRITISH CEMETERY, formerly known as Aux-Rietz Military Cemetery, was begun at the end of April 1917 and used by field ambulances and fighting units until September 1918. Nearly a third of the graves have an artillery connection; in March-April 1917, the artillery of the 2nd Canadian and 5th Divisions, and certain heavy artillery units, had their headquarters in a deep cave at Aux-Rietz. Sixteen graves were brought into the cemetery from the immediate neighbourhood after the Armistice.

The cemetery contains 638 First World War burials, 41 of them unidentified. There are also three Second World War burials, two of which are unidentified.

The Scottish National War Memorial (SNWM) at Edinburgh Castle shows that JAMES is commemorated there.

The entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War (SDGW) shows that JAMES enlisted in Hamilton.

The Medal Rolls Index Card (MIC) for JAMES shows that he was awarded The Victory Medal and The British War Medal.

The "Soldier's Effects" record shows that his father John received his Outstanding Pay of £2/6/8 and a War Gratuity of £3/-/-.

 

JAMES is listed in De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour.

 

A Dependant's Pension was paid to his sister Mary.

 

His brother MATHEW served as Sapper 360631 in 35 Signal Company, Royal Engineers.

MATTHEW survived WW1, and served from 7 Apr 1915 until he was discharged on 20 Mar 1919.

Lest We Forget!