McCaw, James
Private
No. 1024229
75th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment)
Killed in action on Monday 2 September 1918 (aged 19)
Buried:
Dury Mill British Cemetery, France (Grave II. A. 4)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Canadian Virtual War Memorial (CVWM)
Canadian First World War Book of Remembrance
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt McCall.
In the 9 November 1918 edition of the County Down Spectator it was reported that, at their meeting on 29 October 1918 the members of the Town Improvement Committee of Bangor Urban Council passed a sincere resolution of sympathy to the relatives of Rifleman James McCaw who had been killed in action. His address was reported to be Castle Street, Bangor.
Private James McCaw (No. 1024229) enlisted on 29 July 1916 at Brampton, Ontario and he cited his brothers John McCaw and Alexander McCaw and his sister Aggie McCaw as his next-of-kin. John’s address was Muirkirk, Ontario. Alexander’s address was Fenwick, Ontario and Alexander served as a Private in the 34th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Aggie’s address was Dane City, Wisconsin, USA. There was reference also to James McCaw’s mother, Annie McCaw whose address was 166 Seacliff Road, Bangor, Co Down.
In his attestation papers he declared that he was 17 years 6 months old and that he was born on 22 January 1899 in Bangor, Ireland. It was noted that he was a farmer and that he was 5 feet 4½ inches tall. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes, auburn hair and he stated that his religious denomination was Methodist.
Private James McCaw (No. 1024229) left Halifax on 18 April 1917 aboard the SS Scandinavian and arrived in Liverpool on 29 April 1917. He was posted overseas on 26 January 1918.
Private James McCaw (No. 1024229) served with the 75th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) and he was killed in action on 2 September 1918. The official record states, ‘He was killed during the storming of the Drocourt-Queant Switch Line, in the attack and capture of the ridge, and the sunken road beyond, between the town of Dury and the Arras-Cambrai Road, a few hundred yards north of the Arras-Cambrai Road’.
In 1901 the McCaw family lived in West Street, Bangor – James, Annie and three of their children: Mary (aged 8), Agnes (aged 4) and James (aged 2). It was recorded that James Junior was born in England.
In 1911 the McCaw family was living in Croft Street, Bangor – Annie and three of her children: Mary (aged 18), Agnes (aged 15) and John (aged 8).
James McCaw Senior worked as a labourer and he and Annie (sometimes Ann, sometimes Annabelle) Anderson (nee Swindle) were married on 5 February 1892 in St Anne’s Church of Ireland Church, Belfast. Annie had previously been married to Alexander Anderson; Annie and Alexander were married on 30 November 1888 in St Anne’s Church of Ireland Church, Belfast. Alexander Anderson died of epilepsy on 18 June 1890 (aged 19) in Belfast Workhouse; his father, John Anderson, of 12 Second Street, Bloomfield, Belfast, was with him when he died.
According to their 1911 census return James and Annie McCaw (formerly Anderson, nee Swindle) had six children. They were:
Mary (born 30 January 1893 in Castle Street, Bangor; baptised in Bangor Parish Church of Ireland Church)
Agnes (Aggie, born around 1896/1897)
James (born 22 January 1899 in England)
Alexander (born 30 August 1901 in West Street, Bangor)
Grace (born 6 August 1896 at 3 Barrett Terrace, Belfast)
John (born 10 June 1904 in Castle Street, Bangor)
When she was 50, Annie McCaw moved to Edmonton, Canada.
James McCaw Junior moved to Malton, Mississauga, Ontario where he worked on a farm before he enlisted on 29 July 1916.
His brother Alexander used the surname McCall during and after his Army service. In 1920 he worked as a waiter at Niagara Falls, and he served in US armed forces from 4 February 1921 to 7 February 1924.
Alexander McCall and Norah Pearl Ulsaker were married on 16 April 1932 in Otter Tail, Minnesota, USA. They had two sons and two daughters.
Alexander McCall was a poultry farmer, and he died on 14 December 1976 (aged 75) in McAllen General Hospital, 13225 Crooked Lake Boulevard, Coon Rapids, Minnesota.
His sister, Agnes McCaw, and Corrydon Wilson were married on 27 June 1916 in Miles City, Montana, USA. Agnes declared that she was was a daughter of James and Annabella McCaw (nee Swindle).
Information pertaining to the Swindle family has been compiled:
William Swindle and Ellen Killops (sometimes Killips, sometimes Keelips) were married on 24 May 1859 in Inch Parish Church of Ireland Church, Downpatrick. Their children included:
Annabella (Ann/Annie, born 22 February 1864 at Saul, Downpatrick)
Robert (born 28 October 1866 at Demesne, Newtownards)
Mary Lowery (born 13 March 1870 at Ballyharry, Newtownards)
Thomas (born 8 January 1873 at Ballyharry, Newtownards)
Ellen (born 1 July 1875 at Ballyharry, Newtownards)
Agnes (born 16 December 1877 at Bangor)
James (born 11 September 1880 at West Street, Bangor)
Samuel (born 16 December 1884 at West Street, Bangor)
In 1901 the Swindle family was living in West Street, Bangor
William (Head of family aged 60)
Ellen (Wife aged 60)
Agnes (Daughter aged 24)
James (Son aged 20)
John (Son aged 15)
William John (Grandson aged 12); born on 20 July 1889 at West Street, Bangor, he was a son of Alexander and Annie Anderson (nee Swindle)
Susan (Granddaughter aged 4)
Mary (Granddaughter aged 3)
Children of Ann (Annabella) Swindle include:
Unnamed male (born 26 May 1883 at West Street Bangor; son of a domestic servant; Ellen Swindle, his grandmother, registered his birth; died 27 May 1883 at West Street Bangor; Ellen Swindle, his grandmother, registered his death)
Children of Robert and Lizzie Swindle (nee Hill) who were married on 22 October 1894 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church include:
Agnes (born 29 May 1899 at West Street, Bangor; died of bronchitis 17 November 1899 at West Street, Bangor aged 5 months)
Children of Agnes Swindle include:
William James Swindle (born 30 March 1896 at West Street, Bangor, son of Agnes Swindle, a smoother; died of bronchitis 13 July 1896 at West Street, Bangor)
Susanna (born 20 April 1897 at West Street, Bangor)
Unnamed male (born 29 November 1906 at Castle Street, Bangor)