Colin McMillan has provided the following:
James Alexander Coutts was born in Newcastle in or about 1887. In 1891 his Newcastle-born 33 year old father, also called James Alexander Coutts, was a house painter, and his mother was 32 year old Tamar Coutts who was born at South Moor, Durham. James junior had three older sisters: Mary J. (10), Lily (8) and Florence (6) who were all at school. He also had a younger sister, Lena who was 1. All of his siblings were born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and at the time of the 1891 census when James was 4 the family lived at 42 Loadman Street, Elswick, Newcastle.
By 1901 several changes had taken place, the most significant of which was that James’ father was no longer with the family, he having died in 1892. Tamar Coutts had remarried and was now Tamar Ward. Her husband, 42 year old Allendale born John Ward was head of the household which now contained his own 2 year old daughter, Olive who was born in Newcastle, as well as James and his sisters. Here again more changes had taken place: oldest sisters Mary and Lily were no longer there and Lena had become Tamar L Coutts. Two more sisters had joined the family, they were Ethel M. Coutts (8) and Lucy M. Coutts (7), both born in Morpeth. John Ward was a shoemaker working on his own account and James (14) was employed as a shoemaker apprentice. The family were now living at 24 Wellway, Morpeth.
It is possible that by 1911 James had left the household and was living with the Pringle family at The Belling [Bellion?], Netherwitton, Morpeth. The head of the household was Thomas Pringle, a 45 year old farmer and employer. James’ relationship with him was as a “servant” and he was employed as a farm labourer. (Thomas Pringle had several daughters, all born at Bellion).
James’ marriage to Jessie Coutts (nee Bennet) was registered in Oct-Nov-Dec quarter of 1912. When his wife was informed of her husband’s death the address was Granby Buildings, Morpeth.
James Alexander Coutts enlisted at Morpeth and served with the 1st/7th (Territorials) Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers. His service number was 290031. He died of wounds in the France and Flanders Western European Theatre of War on 28th October 1917. He was awarded the 1915 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
Morpeth Herald 09/11/1917 carries a brief obituary:
Mrs Coutts, Granby Buildings, Morpeth, has received the following letter from Lieut. C.R. Strides regarding the death of her husband:-
No doubt you have been informed of the death of your husband, Lance-Corporal Coutts, N.F., but will not have had particulars.
Your husband was wounded by a bomb whilst on duty. From the first he seemed quite cheery and received every attention, and was taken to the casualty clearing station. In spite of the severe wounds he received we thought by his wonderful spirit and pluck, he would probably survive. However, such was not the case, and he died from his wounds.
I sincerely offer you my heartfelt sympathy in your great loss. Your husband was always known as a good soldier, friend, and comrade, and is a great loss to the battalion.
I have visited your husband’s grave. It is in a beautifully kept cemetery, and, if possible, I will endeavour to obtain and send you a photograph of his grave.
Morpeth Herald 16/11/1917 carries the following:
ROLL OF HONOUR
COUTTS.- Received wounds on the 27th Oct., in France, died on the 28th, Lance-Corpl. James Alex. Coutts, N.F. (No. 290031), beloved husband of Jessie, and only beloved son of the late James Alex. Coutts and Tamar Ward, of Morpeth.- (Deeply mourned by his loving wife and child, sisters, and brothers-in-law.)
James Alexander Coutts is remembered at Morpeth on M17.01 M17.02 and M17.09 and in the Battalion History
