Died
8 August 1916
Born
1897
Sources
Ancestry
CWGC
"Kitchener's Men" John Hutton, (Pen & Sword) 2008
Place
Walks
Themes
Private James Henderson Craig
K.O.R.L.
One of the most striking, maybe beautiful, gravestones commemorating a WW1 death in the Barrow Cemetery. James Craig was a Private in the 1st/4th Bn. King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial Pier & Face 5D & 12B. He was only son of Alexander and Jane Ellen Craig, of 56, Powerful St. (CWGC)
John Hutton’s book “Kitchener’s Men” 2008 (p.29-34) has an account of an unsuccessful action in which Craig may have died, which was between Guillemont & Trones Wood. In all, 256 men were casualties; 46 confirmed dead, 56 missing and 154 wounded. Well over half the Battalion had been taken out of action.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
JANE ELLEN
BELOVED WIFE OF
ALEXANDER CRAIG
WHO PASSED
AWAY APRIL 8TH 1929
AGED 54 YEARS
ALSO THE ABOVE
ALEXANDER CRAIG
WHO PASSED
AWAY JUNE 1ST 1943
AGED 71 YEARS
ALSO THEIR SON
PRIVATE JAMES CRAIG
WHO FELL IN ACTION
AUGUST 8TH 1916
AGED 19 YEARS
ALSO THEIR BELOVED GRANDSON
JAMES ALEXANDER BARR
WHO PASSED
AWAY NOV. 21ST 1930
AGED 14 MONTHS
1911 Census
In the 1911 Census, aged 13, James Henderson Craig was living at 56 Powerful St with his parents and siblings. Father was a Ship’s Plater, born in Mavis Grove, Dumfriesshire. Mavis Grove appears to be a street just outside the southern edge of Dumfries itself.
Alexander Henderson Craig: aged 39
Jane Ellen Henderson Craig: aged 36
James Henderson Craig: aged 13
Isabella Henderson Craig: aged 11 Born Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
Maggie Henderson Craig: aged 10
Marion Henderson Craig: aged 8
Ailsa Craig (no Henderson) Aged 4 (Mum and all the other children were born in Barrow).
They had been married for 14 years, and had 10 children in total by 1911. Only 5 were still living.
1901 Census
In the 1901 Census the existing family were living at 32 Earle St, Barrow Island. There was no Henderson in the name, nor is it mentioned on the gravestone.
