Laird of Camster Posted 17 August , 2021 Share Posted 17 August , 2021 Ladies and Gents, Can anyone shine any light on this headstone for me? It’s in the cemetery in Neston Cheshire. Firstly can anyone identify the cap badge? The engraving is very worn, but my best efforts, it seems to say L/*** J*** Handson *0th March 1918 *** 26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 17 August , 2021 Share Posted 17 August , 2021 (edited) Wild guess, but Queen's Edinburgh Rifles (TF Battalions of the Royal Scots)? Edited 17 August , 2021 by Steven Broomfield Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 17 August , 2021 Admin Share Posted 17 August , 2021 Highland Light Infantry? L/Sgt J Hampson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin Michelle Young Posted 17 August , 2021 Admin Share Posted 17 August , 2021 Good shout @Steven Broomfield I think you're correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 17 August , 2021 Share Posted 17 August , 2021 (edited) Curious. I have looked at the Cemeteries in Neston on the CWWG site and not a Hampson (or similar) among them. The only Sgt J Hampson I can find is buried at Le Cateau. Afterthought: As it doesn't seem to be an official headstone, a private burial or a memorial? Deeper afterthought: I support the Queen's Edinburgh Rifles idea. The bugle is under the centre. There is a photo of a 4th/5th Battalion one online here. Acknown Edited 17 August , 2021 by Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knotty Posted 17 August , 2021 Share Posted 17 August , 2021 (edited) Private memorial headstone not a CWCG maintained item, could be commemorating an old soldier, pre WW,who passed away in March 1918. Edited 17 August , 2021 by Knotty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laird of Camster Posted 17 August , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 August , 2021 9 minutes ago, Acknown said: Curious. I have looked at the Cemeteries in Neston on the CWWG site and not a Hampson (or similar) among them. The only Sgt J Hampson I can find is buried at Le Cateau. Afterthought: As it doesn't seem to be an official headstone, a private burial or a memorial? Acknown It certainly is curious this. As you righty say it’s not a CWGC stone, so that may account for why we can’t find him on that site. This in itself posses questions as to why he’s not listed. He appears to have died in March 1918 aged 26 and the cap badge would appear to be a military one, although not one I’m familiar with. Does look similar to the HLI as stated my Michelle, but not exactly the same? The rank of L/Sgt would suggest guards, perhaps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laird of Camster Posted 17 August , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 August , 2021 There appears to be another line of information under his name and the date. Very difficult to make out, but is the last word YPRES? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 17 August , 2021 Share Posted 17 August , 2021 (edited) 250421 L/Sgt James M Hampson 5th/6th Royal Scots died in action in France on 08 Feb 18, and is buried at New Irish Farm Cemetery. Son of Henry and Susan Hampson of Ness, Neston, Cheshire. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/452433/J M HAMPSON/ Acknown Edited 17 August , 2021 by Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaySearching Posted 17 August , 2021 Share Posted 17 August , 2021 Middle name Maxwell Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laird of Camster Posted 17 August , 2021 Author Share Posted 17 August , 2021 (edited) 12 minutes ago, Acknown said: 250421 L/Sgt James M Hampson 5th/6th Royal Scots died in action in France on 08 Feb 18, and is buried at New Irish Farm Cemetery. Son of Henry and Susan Hampson of Ness, Neston, Cheshire. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/452433/J M HAMPSON/ Acknown Thanks Acknown, that’s definitely him isn’t it. Looking closely at the stone the line under his name seems to say killed in action (perhaps?). Edited 17 August , 2021 by Laird of Camster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 17 August , 2021 Share Posted 17 August , 2021 His Soldier's Effects entry (Ancestry) says 'action France'. Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acknown Posted 17 August , 2021 Share Posted 17 August , 2021 (edited) On 08 Feb 18, James's battalion moved into the line from Baboon Camp (not identified) during the evening. They occupied positions in the HOUTHULST FOREST north of VELDHOEK (War Diary 5th/6th Royal Scots from Ancestry): No casualties are recorded, but two OR were wounded on 09 Feb. Acknown Edited 17 August , 2021 by Acknown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyH Posted 17 August , 2021 Share Posted 17 August , 2021 6 hours ago, Laird of Camster said: Can anyone shine any light on this headstone for me? It’s in the cemetery in Neston Cheshire. Is that headstone in the Municipal Cemetery in Neston, or in St. Mary's + St. Helen's Churchyard? BillyH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TullochArd Posted 18 August , 2021 Share Posted 18 August , 2021 12 hours ago, Laird of Camster said: Thanks Acknown, that’s definitely him isn’t it. Looking closely at the stone the line under his name seems to say killed in action (perhaps?). I'd agree with that. The date "?? M?RCH 1918" right at the bottom detracts ever so slightly (by a few weeks) from the most probable 250421 L/Sgt James M Hampson 5th/6th Royal Scots observations. That said, I've seen the occasional family memorial with information, much later formally verified, that similarly conflicts. This seems to be the case here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TullochArd Posted 18 August , 2021 Share Posted 18 August , 2021 12 hours ago, Acknown said: On 08 Feb 18, James's battalion moved into the line from Baboon Camp (not identified) during the evening. They occupied positions in the HOUTHULST FOREST north of VELDHOEK (War Diary 5th/6th Royal Scots from Ancestry): The Bedfordshire in the Great War site leads us up a well trodden path from Baboon Camp and gives a little more local geography ....... "Baboon Camp 11-11-17 - 13-11-17 Working Parties were found by day and night for carrying up R.E. material to the Front Line. On the evening of the 13th the Battalion relieved the 11th Royal Fusiliers in the Front Line - Houthulst Forest, the boundaries being SANCTUARY ROAD on the right and FAIDHERBE ROAD on the left,....." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laird of Camster Posted 18 August , 2021 Author Share Posted 18 August , 2021 9 hours ago, BillyH said: Is that headstone in the Municipal Cemetery in Neston, or in St. Mary's + St. Helen's Churchyard? BillyH. Billy, it’s in St Mary’s and St Helen’s towards the back of the cemetery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laird of Camster Posted 18 August , 2021 Author Share Posted 18 August , 2021 Thank you to everyone who has replied to my thread. It is all very interesting and greatly appreciated!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyH Posted 10 September Share Posted 10 September A bit late to the party here, but he was Royal Scots and a photo is shown below (Birkenhead News 9.10.1915) : More information here 34-James-Maxwell-Hampson.pdf (nestonpast.com) BillyH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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