Private James Rathband

[Greyhound]

I am helping a friend research his family, and with help from Doug Lewis today have established that 2 of the 3 WW1 casualties with the name Rathband are his relatives.

There is no known connection with Ireland, but since the third, 24444 Private James Rathband, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, is listed as being only 16 years old, I am wondering if he has featured in any research on young soldiers.

Thought it worth asking if anyone knows anything about him or his family background.

[Greyhound]

Just bumping this up in the hope that a few more people see it.

Sorry if this is not the "done thing", but I couldn't see anything in the forum rules...

[J Banning]

Greyhound,

Glad you did 'bump this up' otherwise I wouldn't have seen it.

I am not sure if you are aware but Richard van Emden's book 'Boy Soldiers of the Great War' mentions James Rathband. At the start of each chapter the author has given an inscription from the grave of an underage soldier. Chapter 3 starts as follows:

'O SO YOUNG & YET SO BRAVE'

24444 Private James Rathband

9th Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Killed in Action, 9 September 1916, aged 16

Some of these inscriptions he has found and listed are truly heart-breaking and poignant in their reference to underage soldiers.

That is the only reference to James Rathband but I would certainly recommend the book as the only study on the subject of Boy Soldiers - a fascinating read.

Ralph

[Stephen Nulty]

Pte. Rathband was one of 66 men of the RDF who fell in the attack on Ginchy on 09/09/1916. My great uncle (see signature) also fell in that action.

The attached document is a list of RDF men who died that day. (In txt format for ease of uploading)

RDF_09091916.txt

[Greyhound]

Thank you for that, Ralph. I’m surprised to hear there’s only one study of boy soldiers, I would have thought it was a subject of particular interest. I will certainly have a look for that book in the library.

Thanks Stephen too – we had not got as far as working out in which action he fell.

It is unlikely that my friend is connected with the Dublin Rathbands, but you never know, something may turn up. We also found it poignant because his OH is from Ireland, although not Dublin.

[Jervis]

Just the 11+ years late to this post....

 

I came across Rathband's grave in Delville wood cemetery last summer and was struck by his youth. I have only now got around to looking up his details. 

He was born in Dublin 22nd Jan 1900. Which means he was 16 years, 230 days when KIA. 

 

His will is available online. 

 

He wrote his will on Feb 4th 1916, less than 2 weeks after his 16 birthday. His unit is recorded as 5th RDF - special reserve. I am no expert establishing enlistment date from gratuity records but it appears he was probably 15 years old on enlistment. 

 

 

[ss002d6252]

29 minutes ago, Jervis said:

Just the 11+ years late to this post....

 

I came across Rathband's grave in Delville wood cemetery last summer and was struck by his youth. I have only now got around to looking up his details. 

He was born in Dublin 22nd Jan 1900. Which means he was 16 years, 230 days when KIA. 

 

His will is available online. 

 

He wrote his will on Feb 4th 1916, less than 2 weeks after his 16 birthday. His unit is recorded as 5th RDF - special reserve. I am no expert establishing enlistment date from gratuity records but it appears he was probably 15 years old on enlistment. 

 

 

If anyone can get the gratuity details from the soldiers effects records it should help figure out when he had originally enlisted. I would look but don't have Ancestry access at the moment to do so.

 

Craig

[Jervis]

Thanks Craig. That would be brilliant. 

I assume I am not allowed post image but value is £4 3s 6d. 

[ss002d6252]

8 minutes ago, Jervis said:

Thanks Craig. That would be brilliant. 

I assume I am not allowed post image but value is £4 3s 6d. 

Posting the image is fine as it's for your own research enquiry - you just need the bit that is shown in red = preferably showing both the red amount and the red stamp.

 

Craig

[Jervis]

[ss002d6252]

10 minutes ago, Jervis said:

Unfortunately, he received the minimum amount so it's somewhat limited in helping by itself. What it does tell us though is that he had less than 12 months qualifying service at the time of his death and that he wasn't a regular soldier.

In this case #24444, from looking at other service records, seems to have been issued late Oct 1915. #24413 was issued 18 October 1915 and #24490 was issued 26 Oct 1915.

Craig

[Jervis]

Thanks Very much Craig. If it was Oct 1915 as it would appear, he was indeed 15 years on enlistment.