Lieutenant James Armstrong M.C.

Lieutenant James Armstrong, M.C., Royal Indian Marine. He was killed in action in Mesapotamia, aged 36, on the 28th March 1917. He was the son of Robert and Barbara of Linglie Road, Selkirk and is commemorated on the Bombay ( St Thomas ) Cathedral Memorial, Mumbai, India. In 1901 he was with his parents at Fairnalee Farm, Caddonfoot and was an apprentice in the Merchant Marine.. At the outbreak of War he was with the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company of Rangoon, Burma and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, Inland Waterway Transport in October 1916. He commanded the hospital ship H.M.I. “Sikkim” on the River Tigris. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1917 ” For conspicuous gallantry on duty throughout the operations. He has navigated his ship at high speed night and day, in all weathers. He has at all times set a magnificent example of courage and resource”.