In Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of Second Lieutenant James Hamish Granger Geils Pender, serving with the 3rd Battalion attached 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders who died 11/03/1915.

He was born at Ardnoe, Argyll, the son of Major James Pender, C.B.E., and Janet H. M. Geils, his wife, of Castle Wigg, Whithorn, Wigtownshire.

Hamish was educated at Larchfield Academy, Helensburgh; Edinburgh Academy and Edinburgh University.

He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion Gordon Highlanders, 17 October 1914; went to France, 13 February 1915, and was killed in action at Neuve hapelle between 11-13 March, 1915 He was unmarried.

A brother officer wrote: “He was shot through the head on the morning of the 11th trying to urge his men to keep their heads down and take cover, and his death was instantaneous. He died for his country and no mistake, and long will we all remember his cheery face”.

Another said: “He died thinking only of his men’s safety and not of his own, and was one of the most gallant among many gallant officers who died that day. As we were being enfiladed the men were in a very dangerous position, he shouted to them to get right in, as they could not hear, he stood up and signalled to them. He was shot through the head.”

Source: de Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour 1914-18: part one, page 286

The Daily Record 25/03/1915 reports Lieutenant H.G.G. Pender’s death and adds “he was for some time connected with the Elswick Ordnance Works.” Further research shows that in 1911 Hamish James Granger Pender was an Apprentice Mechanical Engineer and boarding at 30 West Parade Elswick.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:

James Hamish Grainger Geils Pender was one of 4 known children, of whom only 3 survived to adulthood, offspring of James Pender and Jane Helen Maude Geils.

James Pender was born April 25th 1860 in New Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire, Scotland, his wife, Janet Helen whom he married September 7th 1887, in Bannachra, Dunbartonshire, was born in circa 1870. 

Janet Helen’s parents, ship broker Thomas Geils and Euphemia Jessie Kenny were both British Citizens born in Madras, Eastern India, in circa 1834/1835. Chennai on the Bay of Bengal, historically known as Madras was a British military garrison and a trading outpost for the East India Company.

All of James and Jane Helen’s children were born in Scotland, Iney Euphemia Mary in Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway, September 22nd 1890, where James Pender was a sheep farmer, living with his family at Ardno House. Ardno, on the banks of Lock Fyne, Argyll and  Butte, opposite Inveraray was also the birthplace of James Hamish Granger Geils, July 19th 1892 and their son Thomas Edward Geils, August 2nd 1894 who sadly died February 13th 1895 at Merchiston Avenue, Edinburgh. John Charles Forbes Pender was born May 16th 1897 Kilmorich, Argyllshire.

At the age of 8 James Hamish was a scholar living at 52, Grant Street, Ardbeg, Port Ellen, Isley, his father James Pender is listed as an Army Lieutenant. As a family they employed a governess and a servant, also in the household on the eve of the 1901 census completion was James Pender’s cousin, ship owner and contractor, John P. Turnbull. James’ father rose to the rank of Major with the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was later honoured by His Majesty The King with the C.B.E.

James Hamish was educated at Larchfield Academy, Helensburgh and Edinburgh Academy. In 1911 listed as Hamish Grainger Geils Pender (18), James was living as a boarder at 30, West Parade, Newcastle upon Tyne, situated near the railway station, in the home of owner Dorothy Elizabeth Ward. He was an apprentice mechanical engineer, also living at the boarding house was assistant manager, mechanical engineer, William Eric Walker. 

Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany, August 4th 1914, which interrupted the lives of many young men not least James who was a lodger at 30, Royal Circus, St. Stephen’s Parish, Edinburgh, attending Edinburgh University. October 17th 1914 James Hamish Grainger Geile Pender was gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion Gordon Highlanders.

2nd Lieutenant Pender departed to join his regiment in France, February 13th 1915 and was attached to the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders of the regular army. The 2nd Battalion had been recalled from Cairo in Egypt upon the declaration of war landing at Southampton, October 1st 1914. After a period of training attached to the 20th Brigade, 7th Division they landed at Zeebrugge, October 7th 1914. Having participated during the First Battle of Ypres in Belgium and subsequent encounters with the enemy by December 1914 their number were greatly depleted and many of their dead from the attack at Well Farm were buried during the Christmas truce.

At the time of 2nd Lieutenant Pender’s arrival the battalion had moved to France and were in support of the 7th Division during the opening day of the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, March 10th 1915. On the second day the division was tasked with taking the village of Aubers. The brigade comprising the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders moved off at 07:00 under heavy shelling and machine gun fire. Most of the 1st Grenadiers and the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders had to take cover before reaching their goal and suffered 500 casualties.

2nd Lieutenant James Hamish Grainger Geile Pender was amongst the casualties March 11th 1915 a brother officer wrote,” He was shot through the head on the morning of the 11th trying to urge his men to keep their heads down and to take cover, and his death was instantaneous. He died for his country and no mistake, and long will we all remember his cheery face.” and another, “ He died thinking only of his men’s safety and not his own, and was one of the most gallant among many gallant officers who died that day. As we were being enfiladed the men were in a very dangerous, position, he shouted to them to get right in, as they could not hear, he stood up and signalled to them. He was shot through the head.” 

Taken for burial he was initially laid to rest at Cuthbert Farm Cemetery map reference 36. M. 25. D .7. 5. Row “C” grave 1, a cross bearing his military details marking the spot.

The monies owed to the late 2nd Lieutenant Pender from the Army were distributed in the sum of £20 15 shillings to his father Major James Pender, and 10 pounds 7 shillings 6 pence each to his sister Mrs Frances R. A. Shiel and brother John Charles Forbes Pender. Awards; 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to Major James Pender C.B.E., Castle Wigg, Withorne, Wigtownshire, Scotland.

Whilst still grieving the loss of their son, Major James Pender’s father died June 7th 1915.

After the Armistice of November 11th 1918 at the request of the French and Belgian Governments the clearing pot the battlefields began. Isolated graves and small concentrations were brought into larger cemeteries for reburial. The Pender family would have been informed of the necessity that the remains of their late son be exhumed and ensured that this would be done with all reverence and honour in the presence of an Army Chaplain.

At the aforementioned map reference the grave of 2nd Lieutenant Pender was found with the cross intact. Further identification was confirmed by his officer’s clothing, kilt also regimental buttons and badges, both the latter were forwarded to his family. The work of exhumation was undertaken between January 17th-20th 1925. 2nd Lieutenant Janes Hamish Grainger Geile Pender and his comrades in arms were brought into Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Pas de Calais, France. 2nd Lieutenant Pender, who at the time of his demise in 1915 was 22 years of age and single, is at rest grave IV. A. 6.

Although James’ Hamish’ younger brother would also have been eligible to serve no records have been found.

Major James Pender C.B.E. of Castle Wigg, Whithorn, died July 3rd 1936 whilst residing at Cathay, Monreith, Port William, Wigtownshire. The deceased had nominated his now widow Janet Helen Maude Pender nee Geils, resident of The Bungalow, Port William, as his executor in a Will drawn up July 6th 1935, recorded with another Writ, Wigtown, September 4th 1936. The deceased estate was valued at 4948 pounds 6 shillings 7 pence. 

Registered as Geils and/or Pender, Janet Helen Maude resident of the Monreith Arms Hotel, Port William, Wigtownshire, died April 2nd 1948. Confirmation of same by her son John Charles Forbes Pender, district commissioner in Nigeria, her daughter Iney Euphemia Mary Shiel nee Pender, Robert Gordon Shiel Alexander, writer of the Signet and Gavin Brown, medical practitioner. Sealed London June 15th 1948.

It should be noted that 2nd Lieut. Pender’s name did not appear on any local war memorial in the north east, however, his family commissioned in his memory altar candlesticks to be situated within St. Mary Magdalene, Prudhoe, County Durham. Perhaps his connection to the Elswick Ordinance Works and knowledge of mechanical engineering brought him to the mining area of Prudhoe. In 2018 his name was included on the Lychgate at Prudhoe St Mary Magdalene.

His sacrifice is honoured in two known locations in Scotland, as one of 10 men from Kilmorich Parish who gave their lives in the Great War on a roadside memorial in the town of Cairdow and his name appears in the Roll of Honour of the Gordon Highlanders, with The Trustees of The Scottish National War Memorial, within Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.  

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

James Hamish Granger Geils Pender is remembered at Prudhoe on P19.01 and P19.04.