Brockie, James Kerr

PRIVATE JAMES KERR BROCKIE was the eldest brother of Private John Kerr Brockie, whose father resides at Maxwelltown, Dumfries.

It is necessary thus to distinguish among the various families of Brockie in the burgh. The two brothers next in age were both wounded; and the youngest brother, John K. Brockie, had not yet fallen on the field (1918, August 5).

There were therefore four Brockies of this family in the Army.

In September 1917, James K. Brockie, who was a china merchant in Peebles, was called up. He was trained at Glencorse. At the end of October he returned to Peebles on furlough looking ill. He went back to the barracks at Glencorse, and was kept in hospital; and from thence conveyed to the hospital in Edinburgh Castle. But

collapse from internal haemorrhage set in, and he passed away on the 7th November 1917, aged 32.

He left a widow, Catherine Confrey and child. His remains were accorded a military funeral, with pipe band and firing party, in the cemetery of Peebles.

Waste of muscle, waste of brain,

Waste of patience, waste of pain,

Waste of manhood, waste of health,

Waste of beauty, waste of wealth,

Waste of blood, and waste of tears,

Waste of youth's most precious years,

Waste of ways that saints have trod,

Waste of glory, waste of God.

War!

Source: The Book of Remembrance for Tweeddale – Peebles Book 2 - Pages 83 and 84

Name: BROCKIE, James Kerr

Initials: J. K.

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Royal Scots

Unit Text: 3rd Bn.

Date of Death: 07/11/1917

Service No: 48757

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 1804.

Cemetery: PEEBLES CEMETERY