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Private James Napier
Description
TitlePrivate James NapierSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionJames Napier was born 15th November 1890 at Stirling, Scotland son of James and Jane Napier of Burnton, Kippen, Stirlingshire. He probably came to New Zealand in 1912 as a James Napier, cattleman, is listed on the passenger list for Athenic in 1912. Before enlisting he was working as a ploughman for Mr R. W. Lochhead at Hororātā. He was 5ft 9 ½ in with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair.
James enlisted on 4th April 1916 at Trentham and was assigned to 15th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. He embarked on 26th July 1916 and arrived in Devonport on 3rd October 1916 but was very quickly sent on to France on 20th October 1916. Like many of the reinforcements he was assigned to Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion. James was killed in action, aged 27, on 14th June 1917, the last day of the battle for Messines. As was reported at the time on the night of the 14th he was with fellow Hororātā soldier Corporal David Robert Phillips and was badly wounded in the leg and the head. In the heat of the action he was left lying in a shell hole and Corporal Phillips concluded that he had died of his wounds. The night attack was probably that on Au Chasseur Cabaret farm by the 2nd Battalion which started at 7.30 pm. The 2nd Battalion lost 31 soldiers during the actions of the 13th and 14th. James’s body was not found or identified and his name is inscribed on the Messines Memorial to the Missing. In New Zealand he is remembered on the Hororata War Memorial.
First NameJamesLast NameNapierFamilySingleSon of James and Jane Napier of Burnton, Kippen, StirlingshireDate of Birth15 November 1890Place of BirthStirling, ScotlandDate of Death14 June 1917Place of DeathMessines, BelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death27
James enlisted on 4th April 1916 at Trentham and was assigned to 15th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company. He embarked on 26th July 1916 and arrived in Devonport on 3rd October 1916 but was very quickly sent on to France on 20th October 1916. Like many of the reinforcements he was assigned to Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion. James was killed in action, aged 27, on 14th June 1917, the last day of the battle for Messines. As was reported at the time on the night of the 14th he was with fellow Hororātā soldier Corporal David Robert Phillips and was badly wounded in the leg and the head. In the heat of the action he was left lying in a shell hole and Corporal Phillips concluded that he had died of his wounds. The night attack was probably that on Au Chasseur Cabaret farm by the 2nd Battalion which started at 7.30 pm. The 2nd Battalion lost 31 soldiers during the actions of the 13th and 14th. James’s body was not found or identified and his name is inscribed on the Messines Memorial to the Missing. In New Zealand he is remembered on the Hororata War Memorial.
First NameJamesLast NameNapierFamilySingleSon of James and Jane Napier of Burnton, Kippen, StirlingshireDate of Birth15 November 1890Place of BirthStirling, ScotlandDate of Death14 June 1917Place of DeathMessines, BelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death27
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageHororata War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryMessines Memorial to the MissingHororata War Memorial Occupation before EnlistingPloughman Regiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry BattalionEnlistment Details4th April 1916 at TrenthamService Number15587Embarkation26th July 1916Reinforcement15th ReinforcementsCountryNew Zealand
Attribution
Researched ByL. M. SeatonTaken FromPhoto taken from Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. Please refer to this site for the photo’s copyright license
Private James Napier. Selwyn Stories, accessed 09/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/383