McGimpsey, James
Private
No. 351053, 9th Battalion, Royal Scots
Killed in action on Monday 23 April 1917 (aged 21)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Arras Memorial, France (Bay 1 and 2)
Greyabbey and District War Memorial located on the outside wall of
Greyabbey Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Saviour’s)
Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for
Trinity Presbyterian Church Greyabbey
Family grave headstone in Movilla Cemetery Newtownards
BIOGRAPHY
James McGimpsey was born on 5 March 1896 in Mount Pleasant, Newtownards and he was a son of James and Mary McGimpsey (nee Regan) who were married on 14 May 1894 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s). James McGimpsey, a labourer from Mill Street, Newtownards was a son of James McGimpsey, a labourer. Mary Regan, a servant from Mount Pleasant, Newtownards was a daughter of Andrew Regan, a tailor.
The McGimpsey family lived in Newtownards and later in Main Street, Greyabbey.
James and Mary McGimpsey (nee Regan) had at least four children:
Thomas (born 22 October 1894 in Circular Street, Newtownards; died of gastric catarrh 4 June 1899 aged 4)
James (born 5 March 1896 in Mount Pleasant, Newtownards)
Maria (born 19 February 1898 in Mount Pleasant, Newtownards; died 14 November 1922 aged 24)
Agnes (born 19 September 1901 in Mill Street, Newtownards; died 15 September 1942 aged 40)
James McGimpsey Senior died of bronchitis in Mill Street, Newtownards on 16 May 1902 (aged 35) and Mary worked as an embroiderer.
Before the Great War James McGimpsey worked as an agricultural labourer. He enlisted in Edinburgh, served with the Royal Scots and was 21 when he was killed in action on 23 April 1917. In May 1917 his mother Mary heard officially about his death in a letter from the Territorial Force Record Office in Hamilton, Scotland.
Private James McGimpsey (No. 351053) has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France; on Greyabbey and District War Memorial located on the outside wall of Greyabbey Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Saviour’s); in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 for Trinity Presbyterian Church Greyabbey and on the family grave headstone in Movilla Cemetery Newtownards.