Pte 49204 James David Speirs

• Age: 20
• From: Bombay
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

James David Speirs was born14th February 1898 in Bombay, India and was baptised 7th June 1898 also in Bombay.. He was the of Alexander and Elizabeth Scott Speirs (nee Wallace). His father Alexander was born on the 19th Sept 1868 in Coloba, Bombay, the son of James and Mary Speirs. He was baptised at the Bombay Presidency on the 29th Oct 1868, and James' sister Daisy was also born in India his father declared himself as Scotch. The mother Elizabeth was born in 1873 in Old Kilpatrick, Glasgow.

His father Alexander (written Speers) is found on the 1891 Census boarding at 12 Sommerville St, Clydebank with the Brown family. He is a 23 year old steam engine fitter born in Bombay, India. 

Whilst working probably in the Glasgow shipyards Alexander met Elizabeth Scott Wallace and they were married at St Rollox Church, Glasgow in 9th July 1895.

They left for India shortly afterwards and daughter Elizabeth Daisy Wyllie Speirs was born on the 22nd Sept 1896 in Bombay, she was baptised at the Bombay Presidency on the 4th Dec 1896. 

Mother Elizabeth must have died out in India as his father returned to Liverpool and remarried in 1904 at Liverpool Register Office to widow Bena(Bessie?) George

The 1911 Census shows the family living at Broughton Cottage Yew Tree Lane West Derby, Liverpool.

The father Alexander aged 42, born 1869 is an Engineer and was born in Bombay. His wife Bessie is aged 42, born 1869 in London and has no occupation listed. They have five children at the time of the Census, Daisy aged 15, born 1896 with no occupation, James aged 14, born 1897 in Bombay, India, Marie aged 6, born 1905, stepson Sydney George aged 12, born 1899 and stepdaughter Sarah George aged 10, born 1901 are at school.

He was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 49204 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 20 during the German Spring Offensive. Details of the action were recorded in the battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank.

29^th – At 3.30 a.m. heavy enemy bombardment opened, followed later (9.00 a.m.) by enemy attack and our line was forced back to G.H.Q.1 where I organised and held on to the position. The enemy got through on both flanks practically surrounding 2 of my companies. ‘A’ company was actually surrounded and after severe fighting were captured.

James David has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Soldiers effects and pension went to his father.

His parents appear on the 1939 register at 127 Sandbrook Rd, Ainsdale, Southport. Father Alexander, dob 19th Sept 1868, a retired engineer, Bessie dob 26th June 1868.

No positive UK death records for his parents

We currently have no further information on James David Speirs, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.