More about James Couttie

James has no known grave but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. He is believed to be the brother of Pte Andrew Couttie, T/1234, Army Service Corps.

James Couttie   CZ/355 Hawke Bn Royal Naval Division

DUNDEE A.B. REPORTED MISSING.

Mr Couttie, 231 Blackness Road, Dundee, has received official information that his son, A.B. James Couttie, of the Royal Naval Division, has been reported missing since 13th November.  A.B. Couttie enlisted two years ago, and also took part in the Gallipoli campaign.  Prior to enlistment he was a mechanic in Grove Mills.

Dundee Courier 1st December 1916

COUTTIE—In loving memory of my friend A.B. James Couttie, Royal Naval Division, reported missing, then officially reported killed on 13th November 1916.  Inserted by Thomas Brand, B.E.F., France.

Dundee People’s Journal 17th November 1917

James Couttie was the son of Mr William Couttie of 237 Blackness Road, Dundee and was employed as a Mechanic when, in September 1914, he volunteered to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve for service in the Royal Naval Division. After initial Naval training at the Crystal Palace in South London he was sent to Blandford Camp in Dorset for advanced military training. On completion he was drafted to the Collingwood Battalion which was shipped to the Dardanelles in May 1915. The Collingwood Battalion landed in Gallipoli in late May 1915 and took part in the Third Battle of Krithia on 4 June 1915. This was their first and last action because, as they advanced towards the enemy line, they were caught in heavy Turkish artillery and machinegun fire. The number of dead and wounded was very high and the Battalion was disbanded two days later. The survivors were distributed to the other RND battalions to replace their losses and James Couttie went to the Anson Battalion. After the withdrawal he became ill with cellulitis and was sent to Malta for treatment for infected teeth. This was unsuccessful and he was transferred to the Royal Naval Hospital at Haslar in Gosport. In the meantime the Anson was transferred to France and James Couttie left hospital and trained as a Stokes Mortar Gunner at Perham Down, rejoining his Battalion in July 1916. The RND trained for assaulting the German line and took part in the final Somme battle. One of the first day’s objectives of the British attack on 1 July 1916 was the capture of the village of Beaucourt just to the west of the River Ancre. It was finally taken on 14 November by the men of the 63rd Royal Naval Division. This was the first major operation by the RND in France and established a reputation for being a “Can Do” Division. However, the casualty list was very high and over 30 local men, were killed and countless more wounded. This was the worst ever day for Dundee’s Naval forces in the First World War. James Couttie was listed as missing and assumed to be killed in action on 13 November 1916. His body was not recovered and he is listed on the Thiepval Memorial in Northern France. His Service Number is noted as Clyde Z/357 in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records and there is a photograph of him in the Dundee Courier 1 December 1916, p4.