Corporal James Ainslie M.M.

Corporal James Tweedie Ainslie, M.M. 5th/6th Battalion, Cameronians ( Scottish Rifles ). He was killed in action in Belgium on 13th July 1918, aged 24. He had been born in Edrom and was the son of John and Elizabeth Ainslie of Chirnsidebridge, Edrom and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. He had been taking part in a trench raid and he was reported wounded and missing on the return journey. When War was declared he was working in Kelvindale paper mill in Glasgow and immediately enlisted in the Highland Light Infantry where he became an instructor before going to France. He transferred to the Scottish Rifles and it was with them that he won the M.M. on 26th April 1918 for his actions in holding off an attack on his position. It was presented to him by General Plumer and he was the first Chirnside soldier to win this award. His brother Tom was serving with the Machine Gun Corps and his other brother was with the Cameron Highlanders.

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