Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Grave: | Brompton Cemetery | W.2.173237 | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.129 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 37B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Born Edinburgh, son of James V. and Charlotte McEntire 47 Inverna Court Kensington, London. In the 1881 census he was aged 1, born Edinburgh, Midlothian, son of James V and Charlotte McEntire, resident 80, South Clerk Street, St Cuthberts, Newington, Midlothian, Scotland. Attested 27 November 1915 in Edinburgh, resident at 3 Savile Place, Newington, Edinburgh, a Brewer's Cashier and Bookkeeper, married 21 August 1913 in Edinburgh, wife Elizabeth Allison McEntire (nee Whigham), one son, Robert Whigham.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, South Africa.
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 14th Battalion London Regiment (London Scottish) |
1/14th (County of London) Battalion (London Scottish) August 1914 : at 59 Buckingham Gate. Part of 4th London Brigade, 2nd London Division. Moved on mobilisation to Abbotts Langley. 16 September 1914 : left the Division and landed at Le Havre. Was engaged at Messines on 31 October 1914 under command of Cavalry Corps. 7 November 1914 : came under command of 1st Brigade in 1st Division. 8 February 1916 : transferred to 168th Brigade in 56th (London) Division. |
| Action : Natural Causes |
Natural causes is attributed those deaths due to causes that were not directly associated with the war. Included in this are wartime deaths resulting from, for example, theSpanish Influenza pandemic and its associated pneumonia problems and other attributions such as age and exhaustion. It also groups those who through Post Traumatic Stress committed suicide as a result of their experiences.
Enlisted aged 27 years 5 months, 5 feet 5¼ inches. weight 147 lbs, chest 33½ inches.
In Broad Arrow of 13th August 1915 at the report of his death, he is said to have become a lieutenant in the Army Motor Reserve in 1908 and was posted to the London Scottish as a second-lieutenant in November last [1914].
Detail :
Western Mail 9th August 1915 - "THE SHOCK OF WAR - DEATH OF OFFICER WHO COULD NOT HAVE STOOD IT. - It was stated of an officer at an inquest at St. Pancras on Saturday that he was suffering from a disease by which he would not have been able to withstand the shock of war. The inquiry concerned the death of James Virtue McEntire, aged 36, a lieutenant in the London Scottish Rifles, who lately resided at Artillery Mansions, Victoria-street. S.W., and who died in the Italian Hospital, Queen's-square, Holborn. The widow said she was married to deceased on June 29, and returned to London from her honeymoon on July 28. Her husband appeared in good health. She understood he was going to see his medical man, but had no idea that he was about to undergo an operation. The same night she was surprised to learn of his death. It was stated that for some years deceased had been treated for a disease on and off. On four different occasions, under medical advice, salvarsan [Arsphenamine or Compound 606] was injected into him, the last occasion being four days before his death. Owing to his condition he was liable, if he received any shock, to die suddenly. Answering the coroner. Dr. Spilsbury said deceased would certainly not have been able to withstand the shock of war. The jury returned a verdict of "Death by misadventure."
The story was also picked up in the Melton Mowbray Mercury and Oakham and Uppingham News on 12th August 1915 - "A WIDOW FIVE WEEKS AFTER MARRIAGE. - Lieutenant's Death Following Injection of Salvarsan. [...] Upon his return from his honeymoon he arranged with Dr. Currie to take a private room at the Italian Hospital, so that Dr. Atal, the house surgeon might perform the operation on injecting salvarsan. On Tuesday evening he went to the hospital, and Dr. Atal, with the aid of a special needle, injected the drug (6 points), when deceased suddenly turned a dusky red in the face and become convulsed all over the body. The doctor withdrew the needle, and resorted to artificial respiration, but deceased died almost at once. Dr Atal, answering the Coroner, said that salvarsan was not a new drug, but before the war it was obtained from Germany. Now it was made in England and France. He had administered the drug in over 1,000 cases. In 700 cases he administered the German make, in 100 the English, and in all other 100 French salvarsan, and had not any ill effects. Dr. Spilsbury, pathologist at St. Mary's Hospital, said that death was due to the effects of asphyxia whilst deceased was suffereing from disease of the brain. In his opinion the injection of the drug took no part in causing death. [...]"
Died in the Italian Hospital, Queen Square, Middlesex, 3 August 1915 in Middlesex, England. Buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. Plot W. Row 2. Grave 173237.
Probate McENTIRE James Virtue of 56 Artillery-mansions Victoria-street Westminster Middlesex lieutenant London Scottish died 3 August 1915 at the Italian Hospital Queen-square Middlesex Administration London 15 October to Mary Ada McEntire widow. Efects £2862 4s 2d.
Commemorated at the Memorial St James's Church Picadilly, South vestibule and also on the Bath College (Collegi Bathonensis) memorial, Bath Abbey. Also listed on the St Mary Abbots Memorial, Kensington, Middlesex.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | London Scottish Rifles' No. 2310 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
20th May 1915 | - | - |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley