Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Photo of James Ramsay McNeill – The McNeill Family, Scotland, 1898 From Left to Right: Agnes McNeill (born McIntosh), Nellie McNeill (front), Elizabeth McNeill, and James Ramsay McNeill (both). Photo was probably taken in Armadale, Linlithgowshire, Scotland just prior to the family's emigration to Canada in the year 1898. Another daughter, Nessie McNeill, was born later that same year before the pioneer family settled on a homestead in Beaver Creek, Alberni, British Columbia. Shown not quite five years old here, the son, James Ramsay, a soldier of the Great War who was seriously wounded by a bullet through the left buttocks at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in 1917, was killed the following year fighting with the 2nd Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles, 8th Infantry Brigade at the Battle of Amiens on August 10, 1918.

Days of Yore – A last glimpse of pioneer life in the stump ranch farm community of Beaver Creek, British Columbia. Here the McNeills gather on a sunny October afternoon, perched contentedly in front of their shake roofed, vine covered cabin that had sheltered the family since 1899. But the sun was setting on this happy family. In less than a year their world would unravel in a series of August tragedies. August 1914, the beginning of the Great War, would prove too irresistible for Jimmie who left the family farm never to return; he was killed instantly in August, 1918. Tragedy struck the family again in August 1921 when the youngest daughter, Nessie, died after contracting tuberculosis earlier in the year, and yet again in August 1922 when Agnes passed away, having finally succumbed to a mother's grief.

Group photo

Attestation Paper - Front

Attestation Paper - Back – Attestation Papers (reverse)

Medals

Letter from Buckingham Palace – Message sent to the parents and family of Private J.R. McNeill from a grateful King.

Citation

Gravemarker