25 March 2018

Remembering James 100 years on

In loving memory of James RENSHAW, Private 350658 (3033), 18th (4th Glasgow Yeomanry) Bn., Highland Light Infantry, also Queens Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry (95730), who was killed in action on the Somme 100 years ago today, on the 25th March 1918, aged 23 years. 


James RENSHAW  1895 - 1918

James has no known grave and is remembered on panel 72 of the Pozieres Memorial at the Pozieres British Cemetery, near the town of Albert in France. 


The Pozieres British Cemetery, France. The memorial
panels can be seen on the walls surrounding the cemetery.
James RENSHAW's name on panel 72 of the Pozieres Memorial.

Before the war James was a coalminer from Bothwellhaugh, Lanarkshire, Scotland and was born in the village on the 28th February 1895. He was the second son of Mary (nee McMULLEN) and David RENSHAW, and the brother of William, David, Robert and Edith. 

My paternal great-grandfather Herbert RENSHAW was a first cousin of James but after the death of Herbert's own parents when he was very young he was raised in this family like another son, hence James was like a younger brother to Herbert and he was known as "Uncle James" by my grandmother Lizzie RENSHAW. 

These photos of James (along with some others I have) all came from my grandmothers photo collection. Other than the official photo on the memorial card, they all show a very happy, smiley, handsome young man who was loved by everyone who knew him or ever met him. James was only 23 years young when he died and had never had the chance to be married or have any children. His youngest brother Robert died as a baby, and his sister Edith died when she was only 19, and so far I have had no luck finding any descendants of his other two brothers. With that in mind I feel it is my duty to remember him and keep his memory alive because there may be no one else who can. 



May James never be forgotten and forever rest in peace.