| Surname: | Davidson |
| Forename(s): | James |
| Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Service number: | 656 |
| Regiment: | 2nd Gordon Highlanders |
| Date of death: | 10 January 1915 Aged 19 |
| Place of death: | Fleurbaix, France |
|
Buried Commemorated |
Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France Newtonmore War Memorial |
Background
James was born on 14 July 1895 at Newtonmore to Mary Davidson a domestic servant. At the time of the 1901 Census James is living with the family in High Road, Newtonmore with his mother, a sister, three brothers, two nieces and a nephew.
War Record
The 2nd Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders went to Belgium 5-8 October 1914. By 25 October the Battalion had suffered over 100 casualties and by 31 October had a strength of only 150.
James was part of the 1914 Christmas truce – see letter to his mother below which was published in the Northern Chronicle of 6 January 1915 just a few days before he died on 10 January 1915. See also below extract from the 2nd Bn. Gordon Highlanders War Diary December 1914.
“I received your letter and card a few days ago.
We had a very enjoyable Christmas, especially Christmas Eve. We were shifting from one part of the trench to another, and as it was all water and mud we simply had to take off our boots and stockings and wade through.
The night was frosty, and I can assure you my feet were never so warm before, once we got dry socks on and a smoke of a woodbine. The water was about three feet deep, and some stuck in the mud, but we only made a joke of it. About 12o’clock we welcomed in Christmas with a volley. The enemy were singing, and were also happy. But we were happier about daybreak. We could see the Germans coming out to greet us a merry Christmas. Leaving our trenches we went out to meet them, shook hands, and exchanged keepsakes.
It was not a bit like war. After that we buried the dead, and still continued on friendly terms with the Germans. Our minister conducted a burial service on our right. I think it is the first time in the annals of our history that such a thing has happened. I can assure you I shall never forget Christmas Day and Christmas Eve as long as I live……….. •We are living up to the mark here. In fact we could not be better.“
See also below War Diary 2nd Gordon Highlanders National Archives WO 95/1656/2
He is commemorated on the Kingussie and Insh Memorial in Kingussie Parish Church and on the Ring of Remembrance, Notre Dame de Lorette.
War Diary 2nd Gordon Highlanders National Archives WO 95/1656/2
December 1914
19th to 24th Very heavy rain, trenches a foot deep in water. The state of the trenches was beyond description: they were full of liquid mud, in many places over the knee in depth: one Company on its march to the front line lost 17 pairs of shoes. Sucked off by the mud and never recovered.
25th Not a shot fired on either side. By agreement with the Germans the dead of both sides between the trenches were collected and buried side by side. Greetings exchanged between all units of the Brigade.
27th Some of the trenches fell in and the day was busily spent in repairing them. All the men who can get boots and putties are now loving them, as shoes have proved to be useless in thick mud: the hose tops are turned over the putties.
28th to 31st Normal nothing special. The Truce started on Xmas Day continued until New Year’s Day – Four Scots Guards Scouts who entered the enemy’s during the truce did not return, so 40 Germans who paid a visit to the trenches of the BORDER REGIMENT were kept as Prisoners.
Hot baths have now been arranged for in a Dye Factory behind the lines and each man gets a bath once a fortnight.
4th January 1915
….. A sort of informal truce with the enemy during Xmas and the New Year having taken place strictest orders were issued that it must cease. All Germans above ground to be shot at…..
