Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

The Gallipoli Campaign was fought on the Gallipoli peninsula 25th April 1915 to 9th January 1916. in a failed attempt to defeat Turkey by seizing the Dardanelles and capturing Istanbul. Ill-conceived and planned, the initial effort by the Royal Navy failed to force passage through the Dardanelles by sea power alone. It was then realised that a land force was needed to support the project by suppressing the Turkish mobile artillery batteries. By the time all was ready the Turks were well aware and well prepared. Despite amazing heroics on the day of the landings only minor beachheads were achieved and over the succeeding 8 months little progress was made. Eventually the beachheads were evacuated in a series of successful ruses.

Despite Gallipoli rightly becoming a national source of pride to Australians and New Zealanders, far more British casualties were sustained, and these days the substantial French contribution is almost forgotten.

Detail :

De Ruvignys Vol 1 Page 302. JAMES THOMAS REDPATH 2/LIEUTENANT, 1/KINGS OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS Educated at Morpeth, he enlisted in February 1903 and was promoted Sergeant in 1906, and was given a commission 11 February 1915. He served in Egypt and India, and with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force with which he took part in the landing at the Dardanelles on the 25th April, and was killed in action at "Y" Beach the following day. A commanding officer wrote: "His was a promising young life cut down. He had the brains and ability to rise to anything he wished." A comrade wrote: "He was one of the best and died like a soldier." Twice he was wounded, had his wounds dressed and returned to the firing line between the time of the landing on Y Beach on 25th April and 26th April, when he was killed gallantly leading his men. He behaved most coolly and well all through. He was for two years running the Battalion best shot, and held certificates for efficiency; took a keen interest in shooting, and hunting big game.

James Thomas Redpath was educated at Morpeth. He was promoted Sergeant in 1906, and was given a commission on the 11th February 1915 in his own Battalion. James served in India and Egypt, and was with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Took part in the landing at the Dardanelles on the 25th April 1915, and was killed at 'Y' Beach on the following day.

A commanding officer wrote:-His was a promising young life cut down. He had the brains and ability to rise to anything he wished." A comrade commented:- "He was one of the best and died like a soldier. Twice he was wounded, had his wounds dressed and returned to the firing line between the time of landing on 'Y' Beach, on 25th April and 26th April, when he was killed gallantly leading his men. He behaved most coolly and well all through." He was for two years running the Battalion. Shot and efficiency certificates he held certificates. Also took a keen interest in shooting and hunting big game.

He is buried at Pink Farm Cemetery, Helles, a Commonwealth War Grave.

Masonic :

He was a joining member of Morning Star Lodge at Lucknow in 1913, but was excluded from this lodge on 6th February 1915. He had been previously been a joining member of Lodge Fidelity at Ranikhet on 15 March 1911, which cites Lodge 91. Eg. C. He resigned from Fidelity 30th September 1912. He is not recorded on the register of Lodge of Regularity (English Constitution), so must be a joiner from a foreign constitution. Earliest masonic date is the record of Fidelity.

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