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Lance Corporal James Francis Archibald
Description
TitleLance Corporal James Francis ArchibaldSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionJames was born 30 March 1893 in Shanwell, Kinross-shire, Scotland, sixth of the eight children of James Francis and Mary Archibald. He arrived in New Zealand on board the SS "Ruapehu" on 19 December 1913. He then worked in Ashburton area on farms, before working as a ploughman for Mr H Peach, Hororata. He was 5ft 7in tall with a dark complexion, brown eyes and light brown hair. Acting on the maxim that “an army marches on its stomach” his enlistment was deferred for his teeth to be fixed.
He enlisted on 1 May 1916 at Trentham and was assigned to the 16th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Regiment. Whilst in training at Featherstone he was promoted to Lance-Corporal on 17 June and then two months later at Trentham to Corporal. In July he had attended a function at Hororata on his final leave where he and two other local soldiers were presented with wrist watches by the Patriotic Committee. He embarked on the Mokoia with C Company on 4 October 1916 from Port Chalmers route to Plymouth, disembarking at Devonport on 24 October. He marched into Sling Camp the same day and reverted to Private, perhaps because he had been reprimanded for having an untidy cabin aboard ship. He left for France on 23 November and was taken on strength at Etaples two days later and joined the 2nd Battalion where he was once again promoted to temporary Lance Corporal. Six months later he was declared missing, then killed in action on 7 June 1917, the first day of the Battle of Messines, aged 24. His name is one of the 840 inscribed on the New Zealand Messines Memorial to the Missing. In New Zealand James is remembered on the Hororata War Memorial.
First NameJames FrancisLast NameArchibaldFamilySingleSixth of the eight children of James Francis and Mary ArchibaldDate of Birth30 March 1893Place of BirthShanwell, Kinross-shire, ScotlandDate of Death7 June 1917Place of DeathBelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death24
He enlisted on 1 May 1916 at Trentham and was assigned to the 16th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Regiment. Whilst in training at Featherstone he was promoted to Lance-Corporal on 17 June and then two months later at Trentham to Corporal. In July he had attended a function at Hororata on his final leave where he and two other local soldiers were presented with wrist watches by the Patriotic Committee. He embarked on the Mokoia with C Company on 4 October 1916 from Port Chalmers route to Plymouth, disembarking at Devonport on 24 October. He marched into Sling Camp the same day and reverted to Private, perhaps because he had been reprimanded for having an untidy cabin aboard ship. He left for France on 23 November and was taken on strength at Etaples two days later and joined the 2nd Battalion where he was once again promoted to temporary Lance Corporal. Six months later he was declared missing, then killed in action on 7 June 1917, the first day of the Battle of Messines, aged 24. His name is one of the 840 inscribed on the New Zealand Messines Memorial to the Missing. In New Zealand James is remembered on the Hororata War Memorial.
First NameJames FrancisLast NameArchibaldFamilySingleSixth of the eight children of James Francis and Mary ArchibaldDate of Birth30 March 1893Place of BirthShanwell, Kinross-shire, ScotlandDate of Death7 June 1917Place of DeathBelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death24
Connections
CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageHororata War MemorialMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph
Military Service
Memorial or CemeteryHororata War MemorialMessines Memorial to the MissingRegiment or ServiceCanterbury Infantry Regiment Enlistment Details1st May 1916 at TrenthamService Number21638 Embarkation4th October 1916TransportMokoia Theatre of WarBattle of MessinesReinforcement16th 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
Lance Corporal James Francis Archibald. Selwyn Stories, accessed 09/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/384