Captain James Grant McNeill born 17 October 1893 in St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Son of Thompson and Carrie Estelle MacNeill, of St. Stephen, New Brunswick. McNeill a young physician and surgeon prior to the Great War.
Captain James Grant McNeill enlisted 23 May 1916 in Kingston, Ontario. Standing 6 feet tall, 168 pounds with good physical development.
No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance
Firstly, No.6 Canadian Field Ambulance organized in November 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Roland Playfair Campbell (killed at Courcelette, 16 September 1916). Firstly, mobilized at Montreal and recruited in Military District No.4. Then, left training camp on 16 April 1915, and left Halifax 18 April 1915 aboard SS NORTHLAND with 4th, 5th and 6th Field Companies Canadian Engineers, No.2 CCS, No.3 Stationary Hospital, No.4 and No.5 Field Ambulance.
Troopship GRAMPIAN also sailed. Firstly, arrived in Avonmouth, England 29 April 1915 and arrived at training camp in Sandling on 29 April 1915 with strength of 11 officers, 259 other ranks. Later, moved to Otterpool Camp, 24 May 1915, and arrived in Le Havre, France on board SS VIPER 16 September 1915 with the 2nd Canadian Division.
Locre (Loker)
No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance handled the Divisional Rest Station at Locre, Belgium from September 1915 to 31 March 1916.
Captain James Grant McNeill embarked from Halifax per SS OLYMPIC on 1 June 1916, arriving in Liverpool on 7 June 1916. Then, taken-on-strength of the CAMC as of 1 June 1916, and transferred to CAMC Training School. Finally, Captain James Grant McNeill proceeded overseas on 14 August 1916 and finds his unit at Bedford House, Belgium.
Captain James Grant McNeill admitted to No. 25 Stationary Hospital, Rouen (diptheria), 13 May 1918. Later, Sick leave to England, 1 July 1918 to 21 July 1918.
Captain McNeill misses a big day as fifty other ranks attend the Canadian Corps Sports in Tinques, 1 July 1918.
Then, on 24 August 1918, CCS established on the east side of Avesnes-le-Comte.
Arras
Following the Battle of Amiens, a Divisional Rest Station established on Boulevard Crespel (close to Place Victor Hugo), Arras on 7 September 1918.
Military Cross
While attached to the 25th Battalion, Captain James Grant McNeill awarded the Military Cross.
Later, on 24 September 1918, Captain McNeill returns from serving with the 19th Battalion.
Then on 12 October 1918, Captain James Grant McNeill MC killed in action today and Captain Arthur Allan Parker fatally wounded. Capt Parker died of his wounds at No. 33 CCS. He was buried at cemetery at 51b.S.9.c (later exhumed to Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Fichieux). Captain McNeill buried east of Boisleux-au-Mont and later moved to Ramillies British Cemetery.
Ramillies British Cemetery
Ramillies village approximately 3 kilometres north-east of Cambrai. The Cemetery signposted from the centre of the village and situated just outside Ramillies on Rue d’erre.
The village of Ramillies captured by the Canadian Corps on the night of 8-9 October 1918. The original cemetery contained 93 graves dating from 30 September to 17 October but after the Armistice, further graves brought into the cemetery from the following:- ESCAUDOEUVRES CONVENT CEMETERY, South-West of the village of Escaudoeuvres, close to the road to Cambrai, in the grounds of the Convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor. At this time, it contained the graves of 80 soldiers from the United Kingdom, six from Canada, 43 German soldiers and two French civilians). In addition, MALINCOURT GERMAN CEMETERY, which contained the grave of a Chinese labourer. Finally, Ramillies British Cemetery now contains 180 Great War burials and designed by W C Von Berg.
Then, on 13 October 1918 Acting O.C., Major McKechnie, Captain Kennedy and Guiou and 4 other ranks attended the funeral of Captain Parker from No.33 CCS.
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