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Kā Kōrero o Waikirikiri Selwyn Stories

Private James Edward McVeigh

Description

TitlePrivate James Edward McVeighSummaryA soldier in World War One. DescriptionJames was born at Lincoln on 31st July 1891, son of Daniel McVeigh and his second wife Julia McVeigh. At the time of enlisting he had moved to Weston near Oamaru where he was farming. His sister was given as next of kin so she may have been keeping house for him. He had previous military experience with the 5th Mounted Regiment, the wonderfully named Otago Hussars. He was 6ft 2¼in tall with a dark complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.

He enlisted 29th June 1916 and was assigned to the 19th Reinforcements Specialist Machine-Gun Section and was promoted to Sergeant on 8th November. He embarked with them from Wellington on 15th November 1916, disembarking at Devonport on 29th January 1917 and marching into Sling Camp the same day. Almost a month later he was taken on the strength at Grantham on 22nd February 1917 where he reverted to Lance Corporal on 1st March. He was promoted on 30th June and then to Staff Sergeant whilst acting as an instructor at the Machine Gun Depot effective from 23rd May.

The experience of fighting in the early clashes and in the First Battle of Ypres had proved that the machine guns required special tactics and organisation. On 22 November 1914 the BEF established a Machine Gun School at Wisques in France and a Machine Gun Training Centre was also established at Grantham in England. Shortly after the formation of the MGC, the Maxim guns were replaced by the Vickers, which became a standard gun for the next five decades. The Vickers machine gun is fired from a tripod and is cooled by water held in a jacket around the barrel. The gun weighed 28.5 pounds, the water another 10 and the tripod weighed 20 pounds. Bullets were assembled into a canvas belt, which held 250 rounds and would last 30 seconds at the maximum rate of fire of 500 rounds per minute. Two men were required to carry the equipment and two the ammunition. A Vickers machine gun team also had two spare men.

Five months later on 19 October James left for France at which point he relinquished Staff Sergeant rank. He marched in at Camiers, Base Depot for the Corps, on 20th October and was posted to No 5 Divisional Company Machine Gun Corps in the field on 28th October and reverted to Private. He was killed in action on 9th January 1918, aged 28. At that time the front lay in front of Polygon Wood, extending for about one and a half miles from just beyond Cameron Covert in the south to Inder Ster Cabaret in the north. To supplement the machine gun defence eight guns of the Divisional Company were taken on 19th November to positions near Jetty Wood, where they were placed in two groups. These groups were laid on S.O.S. lines to barrage forward of our front line, with one gun enfilading the enemy line in front of Polderhoek Château. Enemy aircraft were busy about our lines throughout January and February. James was buried at Aeroplane Cemetery, Ypres grave VI. C. 33. In New Zealand James is remembered on the Lincoln Roll of HonourFirst NameJames EdwardLast NameMcVeighFamilySon of Daniel and Julia McVeighDate of Birth31 July 1891Place of BirthLincolnDate of Death9 January 1918Place of DeathYpres Salient, BelgiumCause of DeathKilled in actionAge at Death28

Connections

CollectionSoldiers of Selwyn World War OneImageLincoln War Memorial Roll of HonourMore InformationAuckland War Memorial Cenotaph

Military Service

Memorial or CemeteryAeroplane Cemetery, YpresLincoln Roll of HonourOccupation before EnlistingFarmerRegiment or ServiceReinforcements Specialist Machine-Gun Section Enlistment Details29th June 1916Service Number29653Rank Last HeldPrivateEmbarkation15th November 1916Place of EmbarkationWellington

Attribution

Taken FromPhoto taken from Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph. Please refer to this site for the photo’s copyright license.

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Private James Edward McVeigh