Muchty Remembers

Born: 10 November 1888, Distillery St, Auchtermuchty.

Son of George Petrie, Auchtermuchty, and Elizabeth Donaldson.

Army Number: 8374

Rank: Private

Regiment: 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.

Died: Killed in action, Flanders, 11 November 1914. 

Buried: No known grave. Commemorated on the Menin Gate, Panel 38 to 40.

War Memorial. Parish Church Plaque. Photograph.

 

James Petrie was born 10 Nov 1888 at Distillery St, Auchtermuchty, the second son of George Petrie, 1857-1938, labourer, and Elizabeth Donaldson, born 1867.

George Petrie was the son of George Petrie, 1825-1903 and Margaret Nicol, 1827-1909. In 1851 George Petrie senior, 16, was living at Holy Land, now Newburgh Road, Auchtermuchty, with his father George Petrie and siblings. In 1861 George Petrie was living at Private House, Auchtermuchty, a labourer, with his wife Margaret Nicol and their children Jean, 5, and George, 4. In 1871 George Petrie was living at Juliafield, Auchtermuchty, with his wife and four children. In 1881 he was still in Auchtermuchty, but by 1891 he was living at Blinkbonny.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Petrie's father, George Petrie, junior, was living in Factory St, Auchtermuchty in 1888, when James Petrie was born. In 1891 George Petrie, with his sons William D, born 1885, and James, born 1888, were living at Blinkbonny, Abdie.

James Petrie was the great grandson of George Petrie, 1781-1861, and Elspeth Stevens, 1786-1857. He was the great great grandson of Robert Petrie, 1742-1818 and Christian Scott, born 1740.

 

James Petrie moved with his parents to Lochgelly by 1892 where his sisters Agnes, 1892, and Maggie M, 1895, were born. He moved with his parents to Cash Feus, Strathmiglo, by 1897, where his sister Grace, 1897, and brother Patrick, 1899, were born.

In 1901 James Petrie and his five siblings were living at Cash Feus, Strathmiglo, where their father was a steel work labourer, workinh at ferlie *& Son, Fife Iron Works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Petrie enlisted at Cowdenbeath and joined 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlander, perhaps in November 1906, on his 18th birthday.

In 1911 James Petrie was stationed at Aldershot with 1st Battalion Queen's Own Highlanders.

On 4 August 1914, the day Britain declared war on Germany, 1st Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders was stationed at Edinburgh. On 14 August the Battalion was mobilised for war and landed at Le Havre, in France. On 5 Sepember the Battalion joined 1st Brigade of the 1st Division in the British Expeditionary Force and fought at the Battle of the Marne, 10 Setember, and Battle of the Aisne, 13 September. The Battle of Ypres started on 12 October and lasted till 22 Noember.

James Petrie was killed in action in Flanders, at the Battle of Ypres, on 11 November 1914, age not known. [He was 25] There was no known grave and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres.

"NEWS FROM THE FRONT - So far the lads from this district who have been fighting at the front have not had many casualties recorded, though the continued absence of any information regarding James Petrie causes not a little anxiety." Fife News. December 1914.

James Petrie, the first man from Auchtermuchty to die, was still reported missing in October 1915.

"MUCHTY SOLDIERS. Private James Petrie, 2d Battalion Cameron Highlanders, who has been missing since December, 1914, is now officially reported killed. Private Petrie, who was a son of George Petrie, Auchtermuchty, was a regular soldier, and was dispatched to France at the outbreak of war." Fife Herald. March 1916.

 

James Petrie was the brother of Patrick A M Petrie, killed in 1918.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Menin Gate, Ypres, France..                                                          Memorial plaque, Auchtermuchty Church.