Ali Hollington Posted 6 December , 2005 Share Posted 6 December , 2005 Hi, Planning to go to the NA and view his medal rolls, but in the meantime, any clues to his battalion, enlistment etc from his regimental numbers? Scottish Rifles- 25929 HLI- 41026 His medals where issued to his HLI number. Regards Ali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPCLI Posted 6 December , 2005 Share Posted 6 December , 2005 any clues to his battalion, enlistment etc from his regimental numbers? Hi Ali, At an informed guess I would go with the 16th (Glasgow Boy's Brigade) Battalion. Firstly, by looking at the numbers around Pike's 41026 we have: Scottish Rifles- 26173; HLI – 41020: James Marshall Scottish Rifles- xxxxx; HLI – 41022: Alexander McLean Scottish Rifles- 25737; HLI – 41023: William Forsythe Scottish Rifles- 25786; HLI – 41024: David B McLean Scottish Rifles- 25791; HLI – 41025: Gordon Kettleworth Scottish Rifles- 25929; HLI – 41026: William H Pike Scottish Rifles- 26021; HLI – 41027: James McGhie – kia 18/11/1916 with 16th Bn. Scottish Rifles- 26024; HLI – 41028: John Hudson Scottish Rifles- 26028; HLI – 41029: George, Ross Also I have the following men in my files and they definitely served with the 16th Bn.: Scottish Rifles- 25111; HLI – 41006: Daniel A Fergusson Scottish Rifles- 25187; HLI – 41007: Archibald L Colvin Scottish Rifles- 26034; HLI – 41030: Robert Cameron Their HLI regt nos. fall either side of the above group, so it suggests a big transfer from the Scottish Rifles to the 16th HLI. Still, better check the medal rolls to be sure. Cheers, Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali Hollington Posted 7 December , 2005 Author Share Posted 7 December , 2005 Hi Stuart, Thanks for the details, once I've checked the medal rolls I'll get back to you, but it does look likely he was with the 16th Btn. Do you have a possible date for enlistment/transfer of the men in your files? Regards Ali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrieduncan Posted 7 December , 2005 Share Posted 7 December , 2005 Hi Stuart, I noticed that you have a KIA date next to Pte James McGhie. I knew a family once who's relation, Pte William McGhie, 203648, was killed in 1918, he was in the 9th Battalion Scottish Rifles. I only mention it because that particular spelling of McGhie is not very common and I distinctly remember reading a letter of the family that suggested there may have been a brother who also died. It may well be coincidence but then again, who knows? I am no longer in touch with the family (ex girlfriends family ) but at the time I did have someone do some research on Pte Wm McGhie at the PRO, I should maybe still have it lying around somewhere. One thing I always remembered about this was the death plaque. It was housed in some kind of metal frame, shaped in a cross with a stand at the back. I hadn't ever seen anything like it before and we took it to the regimental museum to see if they knew anything about it, but nothing. I'v only very recently seen one like it while I was working over at the Motherwell heritage centre, where they have another Cameronian death plaque in the same frame. I wonder maybe if you have ever come across something similar? Regards Barrie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali Hollington Posted 8 December , 2005 Author Share Posted 8 December , 2005 A search of the online MIC's for James McGhie, brings up 19 documents with the following for HLI: McGhie, James Corps: Highland Light Infantry Regiment No: 24566 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/12 Medal card of McGhie, James Corps: Highland Light Infantry Regiment No: 281424 Rank: Private 1914-1920 WO 372/12 Medal card of McGhie, James Corps: Highland Light Infantry Regiment No: 63364 Rank: Private... 1914-1920 WO 372/12 Medal card of McGhie, James Corps: Highland Light Infantry Regiment No: 8046 Rank: Private... 1914-1920 WO 372/12 Regards Ali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrieduncan Posted 8 December , 2005 Share Posted 8 December , 2005 Hi Ali, It looks like the name wasn't that uncommon after all Good luck with your search, Barrie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali Hollington Posted 8 December , 2005 Author Share Posted 8 December , 2005 Cheers, Just a case of trying to fit a day to the NA in, fingers crossed it will be this side of Christmas. Regards Ali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PPCLI Posted 11 December , 2005 Share Posted 11 December , 2005 Do you have a possible date for enlistment/transfer of the men in your files? Hi Ali, I got in touch with someone who has a lot of info on the 16th HLI and pointed them to this thread. The reply didn't mention Pike by name (but I'm assumuing that that it would have mentioned if Pike wasn't 16th Bn.), but did say the following about a timeframe for the transfer: "Looked at the thread - not sure on the transfer date - but between Nov 1915 and Nov 1916 - more than likely early July 1916 - war diary is not specific." Hope this helps. It looks like the name wasn't that uncommon after all Barrie - where I come from McGhie is also more common than McGhee. W.r.t. the death plaque - I'm not the person to ask; I have never seen one (apart from photos). I did help another forum member track down the 'recipient' of one recently, but that is the extent of my dealings/knowledge in these items. However, if you start a new topic there are several forum members very interested and knowledgeable in this area of research. Best of luck. Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali Hollington Posted 11 December , 2005 Author Share Posted 11 December , 2005 Hi, Cheers for following this up further, we have a letter as a post war reference to William, which states he was in the writers employment in 1915 + 1916- not sure of how long into 1916 though! Maybe next weekend, I'll get to the NA. Ali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali Hollington Posted 27 January , 2006 Author Share Posted 27 January , 2006 Made it! William Pike served with: 10th Scottish Rifles 16 HLI 12 HLI. Adjacent to his name on the Vic/BWM medal rolls are: James Marshall William Forsythe Gordon Kettleworth James McGhie Regards Ali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted 27 January , 2006 Share Posted 27 January , 2006 Details Surname McGHIE Firstname James Service Number 26021 Date Death 18/11/1916 Decoration Place of birth Glasgow Other latterly 41027 16th Bn. The Highland Light Infantry. SNWM roll THE CAMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES) Rank Pte Theatre of death F.& F. Aye Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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