Private James William MCCONACHIE (1409)
10 Platoon, C Company 1/6th (Morayshire) Battalion Seaforth Highlanders

Date of birth: 23rd September 1892
Date of death: 13th November 1916

Killed in action aged 24
Commemorated on the Theipval Memorial to the Missing Panel Face 15C
James William McConachie was born at Blackholes Elchies, Craigellachie on the 23rd of September 1892 the youngest son of James McConachie, a crofter, and Jane (nee Smith) McConachie of Blackholes.

He worked on his father's croft.

He enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders at Archiestown in March 1913 and was mobilised for war service on the 5th of August 1914. He had been at the front for six months when he was killed in action.

On the morning of the 13th of November 1916 the 1/6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders was part of an attack to capture the village of Beaumont Hamel on the Somme. The village had resisted capture since the 1st of July when the 29th Division had suffered terrible casualties in their attempt to take it on the first day of the battle. The battalion was detailed to be in the fifth and sixth waves of the 51st Highland Division assault that morning. At 5.45am a mine was detonated under the Hawthorn Ridge and the first waves moved forward. They passed over the jumping off trenches without incident but found themselves getting ahead of the leading wave and had to hold their ground for a short while. The attacking battalion of the 1/7th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the 1/5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders captured the German first line trench and the 1/6th Seaforths passed through them and headed for the second line. Here fierce resistance was encountered and the men became scattered. Lieutenant James Bliss rallied men from C and D Companies along with some men from the 1/5th Seaforths and pushed on to the outskirts of the village but they were driven back to the second line by enemy machine gun fire. The party then set about clearing the second line enemy dugouts and consolidating their gains. Further north, A Company had been tasked with the capture of two caves which was achieved with the capture of a large number of prisoners a feat which won one of their officers, 2nd Lieutenant George Edwards, the Distinguished Service Order.

Lieutenant James Bliss, his Commanding Officer wrote to his father:-
Dear Mr McConachie, I have to convey some very bad news to you. Our battalion took part in an attack on the German lines on Monday the 13th last and I regret your son 1409 Pte J McConachie was killed while crossing the first German trench. Will you please accept the sympathy of myself and the whole platoon in your bereavement. Your son had been in No 10 Platoon since he came out here and I had charge of that platoon for a time and led them into action on Monday last. I can assure you that he was a very fine soldier and well liked by all of the men. The casualties have been very severe. Our company went into action four officers and 118 men and came out one officer and 46 men. I fear this letter will be no consolation to you but if you could only have seen those brave fellows your feelings would be those of pride. I will arrange to have his effects sent to you in the normal way and if there is anything I can do for you please let me know.

With deepest sympathy, yours sincerely
James Bliss, Officer Commanding C Company

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