223723 Pte. James Cummiskey British Army 4th Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers from:Glasgow (d.8th Nov 1917) This was the war diary of my great grandfather James Cummiskey who was born on 17th of January 1877. He was married to my great grandmother Agnes and had 6 children, 2 of whom were stepchildren. His daughter, also called Agnes, was my grandmother, who was born in 1908.
On the 4th of August 1914 the 1/4th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers were based at Kilmarnock with the South Scottish Bde. Lowland Div. They moved in Aug. 1914 to Stirling.
On the 11th of May 1915 the formation became 155th Bde. 52nd Div.
They proceeded in May 1915 to the Mediterranean, sailing from Liverpool on the 21st of May and arriving in Mudros on 29th of May. On the 7th of June 1915 They landed at Gallipoli.
In January 1916 they withdrew to Egypt and in April 1918 were sent to France, arriving at Marseilles on 17th of April.
On the 11th of Novemember 1918, 155th Bde. 52nd Div. were at Jurbise, north of Mons.
Here is his War diary:
Place: Marine View, 18th October 1917
1200: Lieutenant Col. W Gibson took over command of Battalion from Major J W G Willison.
1500: Captain Roberts took over adjutancy of Battalion from Captain A Inglis. Battalion supplied digging parties during the day. Linking, scouting and intelligence organisation established.
Place: Marine View, 19th October 1917
0700: Supplied digging parties during the forenoon and again at night. 2nd Lieutenant Gemmell seconded from U.K. Lieutenant Falful transferred to Royal Flying Corps.
Place: Marine View, 20th October 1917
0830: Battalion received by Lt. Col. Gibson. Supplied digging parties at night.
Place: Marine View, 21st October 1917
Supplied digging parties at night. Captain Inglis transferred to A coy (company). Captain Sutherland from A to C. Lt. Kean from A to B coy & Lt. Gemmell posted to G coy.
Place: Marine View, 22nd October 1917
Transfers Captain Inglis A to B coy. Lt. Kean B to A coy. 2nd Lt. Gemmell G to B coy.
Place: Carnarvon, 22nd October 1917
Took over in the firing line from the 4th Norfolks A and D coy in the firing line. K coy in support and B coy in local reserve.
Place: Carnarvon, 23rd October 1917
Things very quiet in firing line.
Place: Carnarvon, 24th October 1917
Things very quiet in firing line.
Place: Carnarvon, 25th October 1917
Things very quiet in firing line.
Place: Gaza, 1st Nov 1917
Battalion in 1st line trenches organising Carnarvon Redoubt, Major J G Willison to hospital sick. Captain J Brett to 2nd in command of Battalion, Captain J Hamilton to command of A coy. Our bombardment of enemy position continued during the day. After dark gaps were cut by us in our own line? to permit egress of attacking troops of 156 Bgde. At 2300 attacking troops advanced to assault of Umbrella Hill and enemy heavily barraged our front line, especially Hereford Ridge and communications trenches and wire roads. Considerable damage to trenches but casualties slight, 10 O.R. wounded, 1 killed.
Place: Gaza 2nd Nov 1917
Intense bombardment by our artillery at 0300 and 0400. Captain Lt. L McKeever RAMC attached rendered valuable assistance in dressing wounded of attacking troops. Arrangements for evacuation of latter were very inadequate. Day passed quietly until 2210 when counter attack seemed to develop to our left. Rest of night quiet.
Place: Gaza 3rd Nov 1917
Captain J Hamilton left to command Pioneer coy. JG Hamilton to command A coy. C coy relieved A coy in front line. Quiet day with some enemy shelling at night.
Place: Gaza 4th Nov 1917
Lt. Col. R G Maclaine A.SH took over command of Battalion from Lt Col Gibson. Quiet day, repair of trenches carried on and camouflage screen erected at night to hide carrying parties working from our lines to Umbrella Hill. Five minutes intense artillery fire at 2200.
Place: Gaza 5th Nov 1917
Enemy heavily bombarded Umbrella Hill no casualties in our line.
Place: Gaza 6th Nov 1917
Coys (Companys) withdrawn from trenches and concentrated at Carnavon Redoubt battalion organised on mobile footing marched at 1200 along seashore to position S of Wadi Hesy where our first line was taken up at dusk by A, B, and C Coys doing detached duty as support to artillery. The days march was about 11 miles over very heavy sand and in unusual heat, but the men although not in marching condition stood it very well.
Place: Gaza 8th Nov 1917
Outpost withdrawn at 0545. Battalion D coy 1 marched at 0620 and arrived N of Wadi Hesy at 0930 crossing Wadi in artillery formation as it was being shelled. Battalion in centre of Brigade attack with KOSB (Kings Own Scottish Borderers) on right and 1/5 RSF (Royal Scots Fusiliers) on left advanced to position of deployment at 1305 eight wheeled and advanced in attack formation B coy on right A coy on left C coy in support.
At 1400. Lt. Col. Maclain wounded when advance started was unfortunately the only officer who had time to go forward to see enemy position. At the outset the Battalion came under very heavy shrapnel fire while crossing the first ridge and suffered very heavy casualties from Howitzer fire in a gully at the foot of the first slope. *Left Battalion were drawn entirely off the line and A coy with them*, by a flanking party which kept up heavy MG Rifle fire. C coy at once ordered in to fill gap which however continued to increase as left Battalion moved further out. At 1500 enemy could be seen returning from their trenches and line was reorganised and waited for left Battalion to come into line before making further advance.
At 1630 2 coys 4 KOSB reposted to reinforce Battalion and were ordered to remain in echelon on left near where they could either be used to fill gap or continue in support of fresh advance.
At 1700 O.C. left Battalion reported a strong hostile counter attack on his left flank and therefore in rear of main advance and O.C. attacking troops ordered a general withdrawal to a position on high ground to West, where Battalion took up the right of the line in touch with 156 Brigade and dug in for the night. The spirit of the Battalion was excellent and the withdrawal much against the inclination of the men.
Casualties in this action, 1 officer Capt. Lt.L McKeever R.A.M.C. (attached) 6 - O.R. Killed.
5 officers, Lt Col. RG Maclaine. Lt WF Templeton. 2nd Lt A McNair. AB Paterson. W Guy remained on duty and 70 other rank wounded.
*I think this is the point at which possibly James Cummiskey gets killed.* (Further up it says that – ‘1/5 RSF (Royal Scots Fusiliers) on left’ - Then further down the doc – ‘Left Battalion were drawn entirely off the line and A coy with them’.
James is commemorated on Panel 18 of the Jerusalem Memorial.
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