James Elliot Black, MC

RankCaptain James Elliot Black, MC
MedalsMilitary Cross, 1914 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, MiD
regimentRoyal Army Medical Corps
Military Service

Black volunteered in August 1914 and was gazetted a Lieutenant in the RAMC (Special Reserve) in September. He landed in France at the beginning of November 1914 and was posted to No 8 Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) at Bailleul, France. He remained there until he joined 8th Battalion, the Bedfordshire Regiment in February 1916. During his time at No 8 CCS he was promoted Captain in April 1915 and Mentioned in Despatches in January 1916.

The Battalion did not take part in the Battle of the Somme until it went into action on 15th September 1916 in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. The battalion failed to take its objective that day and suffered heavy casualties. It was during this action that Black won the Military Cross “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. He rendered valuable service when attending the wounded under heavy machine-gun and shell fire. Later he went out into ‘No Man’s Land’ to succor the wounded”. The award was gazetted in November 1916 and presented to him on 24th December 1916. It is presumed that the single medal ribbon returned to his mother after his death 4 months later is that one.

On 15th April 1917 an attack was made on Hill 70 near Loos. The fighting continued until the 19th when the ground gained was consolidated and the battalion was relieved by the 14th Durham Light Infantry.

Born

10th March 1887, Glasgow

Death19th April 1917
Circumstances of Death

Killed in action
The Officer Commanding 8th Bedfordshires, Col. Lord Ampthill, wrote (to Black’s mother?) that Black had “established his Aid Post as near the fighting line as possible, and there he worked with unremitting zeal and devotion and without a thought of danger till the end. I can honestly tell you that no medical officer could have been more beloved in that battalion than he was.”

Age30
BurialPhilosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, II. O. 1
CWGC Information

Son of Adam Elliot Black and Mary Bruce Murray Black, of Finglen, Campsie Glen, Stirlingshire.

Parents

Adam E Black (c1857-1893) & Mary B Murray (c1862-)

Father's Occupation

Chartered accountant of 51 St Vincent Street, Glasgow.  Officer commanding the Clyde Division, Engineer Volunteers, Submarine Miners, R.E.

Siblings

Margaret B (1890-)

Spouse

Unmarried

Education

Kelvinside Academy
Cargilfield School
Fettes College, Schoolhouse 1900-1905
University of Glasgow MB ChB 1911
University College, London
University of Cambridge

Occupation

Medical Doctor

1891 Census

Bruce Street, Partick

1901 Census

Fettes College, Edinburgh (Home address 5 Kelvinside Terrace, Glasgow)

1911 Census

18 Westbourne Terrace, Glasgow

Home Address

1917 18 Westbourne Terrace, Glasgow

Glasgow NecropolisCompartment Epsilon Lair 580
Other Memorials

Glasgow Royal Infirmary War Memorial
Kelvinside Academy War Memorial
University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel
Campsie Parish War Memorial, Lennoxtown
Wellington Church War Memorial

Acknowledgements and Sources

Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below.  The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to Ancestry, and Find my past.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Family Search

Scotlands People

The Long, Long Trail

The Scottish War Memorials Project

8th (Service) Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment War Diary for 1917 at http://www.bedfordregiment.org.uk/8thbn/8thbtn1917diary.html

2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, War Diary August 1914 – August 1915. (TNA WO 95/1365/1)

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Credits

Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.

 
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