Died
1st April 1939
Sources
Ancestry
Find a Grave website
Sydney Morning Herald
Place
Walks
Themes
James McLardie
Chief Engineer S.S. Strathallan
TO
THE DEAR MEMORY OF
A BELOVED HUSBAND AND FATHER
JAMES MCLARDIE
CHIEF ENGINEER S.S. STRATHALLAN
APRIL 1ST 1939
AGED 58 YEARS
LOVE’S LAST GIFT - REMEMBRANCE
The Ogden’s cigarette card published in 1938, no. 39 of 50, shows Mr. McLardie’s place of work. On the back of the card it says “The speed on the trial was over 22 knots, sufficient to propel the ship from Plymouth to Gibraltar in two days.”
The picture of the Strathallan in Barrow Dock on 5 March 1935 is part of the Sankey Family Photographic Collection (S102), courtesy of Cumbria Archives.
The Strathallan was built at Vickers in Barrow for the Australian route of the P & O Steam Navigation Company and handed over in March 1938. After James McLardie’s death in 1939, it was requisitioned as a troop ship in February 1940, and hit by a torpedo from U562 of Algeria on 21 December 1942, sinking the following day. Only 16 people died, of more than 5000 on board.
The Find a Grave website reveals that the McLardie family grave is in Woodside Cemetery, Paisley, Renfrewshire and reads:
ERECTED
BY
MARGARET MCLARDIE
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
HER FATHER
WILLIAM MCLARDIE
FOREMAN ENGINEER
A.F. CRAIG & CO. LTD.
WHO DIED 11TH NOVEMBER 1897.
HER MOTHER
ISABELLA MCARTHUR
WHO DIED 15TH MAY 1934
HER SISTER
ISABELLA MCLARDIE
WHO DIED 9TH APRIL 1904
HER BROTHER
2ND LT. ARCHIBALD MCLARDIE
WHO FELL AT GALLIPOLI
24TH DECEMBER 1915
AND IS BURIED AT CAPE HELLAS
HER BROTHER
JAMES MCLARDIE
CHIEF ENGINEER
P & O. R.M.S. STRATHALLAN
HUSBAND OF IVY ARTHUR
WHO DIED AT BARROW IN FURNESS
1ST APRIL 1939
AND IS INTERRED THERE
HER SISTER
JESSIE MCLARDIE
INFANT MISTRESS
EAST SCHOOL, PAISLEY,
WHO DIED 5TH SEPTEMBER 1939.
ALSO THE SAID MARGARET MCLARDIE
WHO DIED 16TH MAY 1971
OWE MAN ANYTHING BUT LOVE.
A.F. Craig & Co. Ltd. started in 1868 as a manufacturer of cropping machines at the Caledonia Engine Works, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. Iron-founding and boiler making were later added to the general engineering. Other textile machinery produced included thread-polishers; spool-making, bleaching and dyeing machines; and carpet looms.
From Ancestry Census records we find:
- Isabella born about 1876 (1901 Census Millworker Paperer)
- Jessie born about 1878 (1901 Census School Teacher)
- James born about 1880 (1901 Census Apprentice Engine Fitter)
- Margaret born about 1883 (1901 Census Typist)
- Archibald born about 1889 (1901 Census Scholar)
The National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1939
McLARDIE James McArthur otherwise James of Southbar Southfield-avenue Paisleydied 11 April (sic) 1939 at Barrow-in-Furness Lancashire Confirmation of Margaret McLardie and John MacRobert solicitor. Sealed London 8 May.
The following entry is for James’ sister Jessie McLardie of the same address, who died on 5 September 1939. Confirmation of Margaret McLardie spinster, who erected the gravestone.
Australian Marriage Index 1788-1950
From Ancestry, the Australian Marriage Index 1788-1950 has a James McLardie marrying Ethel I. H. Arthur in Woollahra, New South Wales in 1927. The marriage certificate from the Australian Anglican Parish Registers provides more detail: the wedding took place at St Mark’s, Darling Point on 9 April 1927. James was an engineer, (46) of Paisley, Scotland, while his wife was 29 yrs old, engaged in home duties, and born in Darlington, New South Wales. Her father is identified as a manufacturer.
Some of James’ voyages can be found on Ancestry e.g. on board the S.S. Paloona (Palermo?) arriving in Sydney 2 December 1909 from Mosi? in Japan, James McLardie was 3rd Engineer.
From the Sydney Morning Herald 8 September 1986
Ethel Ivy May McLardie; Archibald James McLardie and Francis William McLardie sailed as tourists on the S.S Moldova from London – Sydney, arriving on September 1932. Their listed address (to visit) is “Edmonton”, Yarraxable Road, Darling Point.
On 9th June 1939, all three of the above set sail from London, apparently intending to settle in Australia. Their British address is Southbar, Southfield Avenue, Paisley. Poignantly, they sailed on James’ ship, SS Strathallan.
Margaret McLardie [James’ sister] (63) sailed from Liverpool to Sydney on the Empire Clarendon on 28 September 1946. Her address is given as 15 Southfield Avenue, Paisley and she is a secretary. She is also listed as arriving at Plymouth from Melbourne on 18 June 1947 aboard the SS Pinjarra. She is now listed as being on “home duties”. Whether this is the return journey I cannot say.
The birth of Archibald James Arthur McLardie was registered in West Ham in the second quarter of 1928. He made his life in Australia (as a clerk, then trainee – presumably a trainer in UK English), appearing on the Electoral Registers living at 244 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach with wife Marjorie Elizabeth McLardie in the 1940s to the 1970s. Francis William’s birth was registered in the Romford district in the first quarter of 1930. He too appears to have made his life (variously as a clerk, accountant and company secretary) in Australia, appearing on Electoral Registers in various places in New South Wales from the 1950s to the 1980s.
James’ brother Second Lieutenant Archibald McLardie, 5th Battn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders is buried at Pink Farm Cemetery, Hellas, and died on Christmas Day 1915 according the CWGC. He was ‘Killed in Action’, and was a Presbyterian. He had only been in the Dardanelles for six weeks. According to Wikipedia Archibald McLardie (1889 – 25 December 1915) was a Scottish professional footballer who played in the Scottish Football League for St Mirren. McLardie attended John Neilson Institution, Paisley Grammar School and later worked as a lawyer for the Carron Company in Falkirk. In June 1915, 10 months after the outbreak of the First World War, McLardie was commissioned into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as a second lieutenant. Prior to the war, he had served as a territorial with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). McLardie was killed at Gallipoli on 25 December 1915 and was buried at Pink Farm Cemetery.
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour (Vol 2)
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour (Vol 2) says that he was killed “during the taking of the last Turkish trench”.
McLARDIE, Archibald Second Lieutenant
~ 1/5th (Renfrewshire) Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Born 17 Greenhill Road, Paisley, son of William (mechanical engineer) & Isabella McArthur McLardie, resident of 7 Greenlaw Avenue, Paisley.
Educated John Neilson Institution & Paisley Grammar School. Member of Oakshaw west U.F. Church, Paisley Liberal Club & Paisley Amateur Swimming Club. Formerly employed as a lawyer with Carron Company, Falkirk. Played football for John Neilson F.P.s, Queen's Park and St Mirren. An ex-Territorial with 5th Bn. Scottish Rifles. Commissioned to 5th A.& S.H., June 1915.
Killed 25th December 1915 aged 26 ~ Buried Pink Farm Cemetery, Helles, Turkey (including Gallipoli).
Paisley’s Fallen in the Great War (Revised & updated) James Meikle Smith (© Renfrewshire Council 2016) Online
