Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Henderson Lennie, one of 8 children of whom only 6 survived, was the 2nd born of 6 sons. His father William Windlow Lennie was born at Gosforth, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, where he was married, February 3rd 1881, to Margaret Jane Henderson, native of Whitburn, County Durham, born October 6th 1856. The couple moved in with William’s parents, brass founder John Lennie and his wife Elizabeth, at Garden Street, Coxlodge, Gosforth. Elizabeth and Margaret were milliners, William worked as a coal miner. June 30th 1881 their son William was born, 2 years later they had moved to County Durham. James Henderson was born at Gateshead in 1883 and after their return to Northumberland, Philip Stanger 1885 at Gosforth, Robert Windle 1887 and Phoebe Elizabeth 1890, at Benwell, both suburbs of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1891 they were living at 33, Handysides (Buildings), William was employed at the ordnance works as a driller, their elder children, William (9), James (7) and Phoebe (5) were scholars. Their family grew with the birth of Lancelot Swindle 1894 and Thomas, November 24th 1896.
Whilst his parents and siblings were living in 3 rooms at 19, Beaumont Terrace, Westerhope, in 1901, James Henderson had left the family home and his employment as a labourer in order to enlist, declaring he had been rejected by the Royal Navy due to insufficient chest measurement, however, June 25th 1901 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, he was accepted for General Service as Private 6168 with the Leicestershire Regiment. He was posted overseas aboard the S.S. City of Venice to Alexandria in Egypt, served in India until his return to Guernsey, December 15th 1902. During his service he also learnt of the death of his sister Phoebe Elizabeth in 1902, only 13 years old. As of November 13th 1903 he returned to India, stationed at Madras and Belgaum where he suffered several times with scabies and disease, returning to Newcastle, February 24th 1909.
James was married at the Registry Office, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, October 11th 1913 to Lilian Blight, born 1892 at Cramlington, Northumberland, their daughter Margaret Jane was born during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1914. Upon the commencement of hostilities with Germany he was recalled to the Colours, August 9th 1914, and with the rank of Private re-joined the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, departing, November 29th 1914, to France.
The 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, part of the 20th (Garhwal) Infantry Brigade, 7th (Meerut) Division of the Indian Army, had been recalled from India landing at Marseilles, October 12th 1914. Private Lennie joined his regiment upon his arrival in France and was posted to the rank of unpaid Lance Corporal, March 23rd 1915 whilst in the field, the likelihood is that this occurred not only due to his past experience but also due to the heavy losses sustained during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, March 10th-13th 1915.
Suffering from piles, he was taken from the field, April 19th 1915, by the 3rd Field Ambulance of the 1st Division, to hospital and from there was sent by the adjutant Boulogne to Class A Reserve at Le Havre, June 21st 1915, re-joining his regiment as paid Lance Corporal, July 11th. During the time he was away from his regiment Private Lennie received news from home that his 10-month old daughter Margaret Jane had died, June 30th 1915. After his departure Lily was living with her father at Burn Close, Callerton, Northumberland, their child died of gastro enteritis accompanied by convulsions, informant James Blight.
Still recovering from the loss of their child the devastating news was received that her husband Lance Corporal 6168 James Henderson Lennie Leicestershire Regiment, initially reported as missing, had been killed in action, during the Battle of Loos, which raged September 25th-October 8th, place unknown, September 25th 1915. His sacrifice is recorded as one of 20,641 names inscribed on the Loos Memorial which forms the back and sides of Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos-en-Gohelle, near Lens, Pas de Calais, France. Lance Corporal Lennie was 32 years of age.
Lily received all monies due to him from the Army, a pension of 10 shillings a week as of April 16th 1916 sent to her at 158, Mill Lane, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal during 1920-1921 to her new address of 27, Agnes Maria Street, Coxlodge, near Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, where she had taken up residence after her marriage to John Elliott at Castle Ward, Northumberland in 1918. Lily and John had a daughter, Elizabeth Ann born in 1920, district of Castle Ward, John Jnr 1922 and Hilda 1923, district of Tynemouth and Kenneth 1930 district of Chester-le-Street, all registered as mother’s surname Blight.
Lilian Elliott-Lennie nee Blight died in 1951 aged 59 years, registered at Northumberland Central (including Castle Ward).
WW1 also claimed the life of John Henderson’s younger brother Lancelot Swindle Lennie. Whilst serving in France with the Northumberland Fusiliers he was killed one week after his brother, October 3rd 1915.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Morpeth Herald 22/10/1915 has a brief obituary:-
Mrs Lennie, of 27, Agnes Maria Street, Coxlodge, has two sons killed in France – 6168, Lance-Corporal J. Lennie, of the 2nd Leicester Regiment, on September 25th 1915 and 811, Private L.S. Lennie 4th N.F. October 3 1915.
James Lennie is remembered at Gosforth on G9.21 and G21.22 and at Whorlton on W53.01
