“I have a Rendezvous with Death” Alan Seeger

MacGillivary/Scott transcription

Family

Husband of Mrs Elizabeth Adamson, nee Robb, Bothkennar; father of wee Jim & Nettie; eldest son of Mr & Mrs McDonald, East End, Stenhousemuir

James, who was born in Clackmannan, was a member of Alloa Burgh Police Force prior to the outbreak of the First World War.  He was a “very popular and efficient police officer”.

As soon as war was declared he enlisted in Alloa for the army.  However, it was some time before he went to the Western Front as his service medals do not include the 1914 Star or the 1914-15 Star.  He returned home for a short period as he had suffered from trench fever.  This was a common disease which was spread by the bites of body lice.  The main symptoms were headaches, skin rashes, inflamed eyes and leg pains.  The fever usually lasted for about five days, but relapses were common.  Rarely a fatal disease, recovery usually took about a month.

At the time of his death, James belonged to the 2/1st Berkshire Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery, which had arrived on the Western Front three months previously.  From mid-July his battery was based near Nieupoort.

On 1 September 1917. James was seriously wounded by shrapnel.  He was taken to the 1st Canadian Clearing Station at Adinkerke, a village 12 miles east of Dunkirk. He died there of these wounds later the same day.