NOT JUST A NAME

14th Canadian Infantry Battalion

Chester Farm Military Cemetery, the resting place of James Duncan Montgomery MacGillivray.
(P. Ferguson image, September 2017)

The Soldier

While taking part in operations with his company, of the 14th Canadian Infantry Battalion, in the trenches south of Zillebeke, Montreal-born Private James Duncan Montgomery MacGillivray, age 41, was killed at 7:25 PM on 25 April 1916.

Next-of-Kin

As I search through James MacGillivray’s service record I learn from his attestation papers that his brother William is recorded as his next of kin living at Marblemount and later Concrete, Skagit County, USA. It is while living in Rockport, another town of Skagit County, that William received a parcel containing a silver War Medal and bronze Victory Medal recognizing James’ service in the Great War.

William would receive two other items memorializing James’ service, a parchment scroll sent to him 16 June 1921, He whom this scroll commemorates was numbered among those who, at the call of King and Country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger, and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Let those who come after see to it that his name is not forgotten.

A bronze memorial plaque, despatched 4 October 1921, was Stolen In the Mail, returned to the authorities ten days later and re-sent to William on 21 October 1921. Upon the circular border edge HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOVR along with the name of the soldier,  in a separate banner, JAMES DUNCAN MONTGOMERY MACGILLIVRAY.

Killed in action

Headstone of Private James Duncan Montgomery MacGillivray.
(P. Ferguson image, September 2017)

Ancestors

It is here at Chester Farm Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium that we discover the MacGillivray heritage of 170 years previous. Recorded on James Duncan Montgomery MacGillivray’s marker there is an inscription A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF THE YOUNG CHIEF WHO FELL ON CULLODEN FIELD.

Culloden, the final Battle of the Jacobite Rising, 16 April 1746, Alexander MacGillvray was killed leading his clan.

Visitors

As I walk towards the iron gate entry/exit-way, I search through the visitor’s book where people provide their thoughts about their paths here. Another visitor, of a different family – and not a MacGillvray, wrote of their family – and so too it applies to them all, NOT JUST A NAME.

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This entry was posted by on Saturday, November 9th, 2019 at 7:37 pm and is filed under Remember Them Well. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

About The Author

pferguson
Paul has worked with the Paradigm Motion Picture Company since 2009 as producer, historian and research specialist. Paul first met Casey and Ian WIlliams of Paradigm in April 2007 at Ieper (Ypres), Belgium when ceremonies were being held for the re-dedication of the Vimy Memorial, France. Paul's sensitivity to film was developed at an early age seeing his first films at RCAF Zweibrucken, Germany and Sardinia. Paul returned to Canada in 1967 and was captivated by David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Bridge on the River Kwai". Over time Paul became increasingly interested in storytelling, content development, character, direction, cinematography, narration and soundtracks. At the University of Victoria, Paul studied and compared Japanese and Australian film and became interested in Australian film maker Peter Weir and his film "Gallipoli" (1981). Paul was inspired when he learned Weir visited the beaches, ridges and ravines of the peninsula. "Gallipoli", the film, led Paul on many journeys to sites of conflict in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Malta, Hawaii, Gallipoli, North Macedonia and Salonika. When Paul first watched documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, "The Civil War", Paul understood how his own experience and insight could be effective and perhaps influential in film-making. Combining his knowledge of Museums and Archives, exhibitions and idea strategies with his film interests was a natural progression. Paul thinks like a film-maker. His passion for history and storytelling brings to Paradigm an eye (and ear) to the keen and sensitive interests of; content development, the understanding of successful and relational use of collections, imagery and voice. Like Paul's favorite actor, Peter O'Toole, Paul believes in the adage “To deepen not broaden.” While on this path Paul always remembers his grandmother whose father did not return from the Great War and how his loss shaped her life and how her experience continues to guide him.

Comments

One Response to “NOT JUST A NAME”

  1. pferguson pferguson says:
    November 9, 2019 at 7:42 pm

    The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records Duncan’s parents as James and Barbara MacKerracher MacGillivray. No details of them are currently known.

    The McGillivray surname is spelled throughout James’ Canadian Expeditionary Service records as McGillivray (Mc not Mac). This is also true of James’ signature within the records. MacGillivray appears on Commonwealth War Graves records.

    Reply

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