A Killed-in-Action 'First Day Battle of Loos' medal group of 3: Private James King, 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders

- 1914-15 Star (S-9348 Pte. J. King. Gord. Highrs.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (S-9348 Pte. J. King. Gordons.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (S-9348 Pte. J. King. Gordons.)

Killed-in-Action: Private James King, 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders is confirmed 'Killed-in-Action' at the Battle of Loos, on 25 September 1915

Battle of Loos: At the Battle of Loos, on 25 September 1915, the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders were led into battle by the regimental pipers - the losses to all-ranks of the battalion were appalling, and numbered several hundreds killed, wounded & missing on the very first day of the battle, a day that was Scotland's bloodiest day of the Great War. Half of the 72 battalions in the assault on 25 September belonged to Scottish regiments. Twelve Regular, Territorial and New Army Scottish batallions formed part of the 1st, 2nd and 7th Regular Army divisions. Twenty-four other battalions, consisting of volunteers, formed the 9th and 15th Scottish divisions in Kitchener's New Army.

Medals verification: All campaign medals confirmed as entitled per the respective medal rolls of the Gordon Highlanders as cited:

- 1915 Star: Ref WO 329/2801 (disembarked theatre of war 'France', 1 June 1915)
- British War Medal. Silver issue: Ref WO 329/1655
- Interallied Victory Medal: Ref WO 329/1655

James King, fourth son of, Hugh King (a Farmer) and Margaret King, was a native of Wishaw, Lanarkshire, Scotland, where he was born in 1890. Prior to the Great War, James was employed as a 'Farm Labourer' and resided, with his mother, at West Netherton Farm, Wishaw, Lanarkshire. James was just one of 10 children born to Hugh & Margaret King, James being the youngest, having 3 x elder brothers, and 6 x elder sisters. James enlisted in the British Army, at, Aberdeen, Scotland, on, 22 February 1915, being posted the same day to the Regimental Depot of the Gordon Highlanders. James joined the 3rd Battalion Gordon Highlanders on, 26 February 1915, with which 'Home' unit he completed his basic training, prior to being posted with a draft to the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders, then serving with the British Expeditionary Force in France on. He landed in France on, 1 June 1915, and joined the 2/Gordon 'In the Field' on 6 June 1915. He was initially posted as 'Missing' on 25 September 1915 - First Day of Loos - however, as his body was never seen or recovered thereafter, his casualty status was subsequently recorded as 'Killed-in-Action' reference 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'

The life and supreme sacrifice of James King are recorded in perpetuity on a memorial panel at the Commonwealth War Grave Commission's 'Loos Memorial', France

Note: Unusually for a Great War fatal casualty, the recipients service papers are extant and held & accessible at The National Archives

Condition: About EF

Code: 22401