James Arthur McFarlane was born on 30th January 1896 at Lochgarry Lodge in Lenzie; I believe this was on modern Garngaber Avenue.
His parents, Archibald and Marie Wilson, were nine days past their tenth wedding anniversary. They had seven children, James was fifth oldest.
Archibald was a “Laundry and Domestic Machine Maker” (according to the 1901 Census), or a “mangle maker” from the record of James’s birth. His company had a factory at Alert Works, 63 Houldsworth Street, Cranstonhill.
In the 1901 Census the family lived at Atherstone (the name of the villa) in Bearsden, although it is described as being on ‘Roman Road’; in modern terms it is 1 Boclair Road.
The 1896 map does not give names to the roads in the area (although what we would call Roman Road is referred to as the Old Military Way):
James attended Glasgow High School and then Glasgow School of Art. He was a member of the Milngavie and Bearsden Cricket Club. (I believe they played just south of modern Auchenhowie Road where the sports hub is today).
James joined up at the outbreak of war in 1914 with the 12th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry initially in the ranks where he saw active service on the Western Front (the battalion landed at Boulogne in May 1915 and took heavy casualties at the Battle of Loos in September 1915).
He was commissioned as an officer in July 1916.
In September 1916 as a part of 15 Scottish Division, 46 Brigade, 12th HLI attacked to capture Martinpuich. (Bearsden men Arthur Russell of Lochbrae Cottage, Drymen Road and John Duvoisin of Roman Road died two months earlier trying to capture the same village with 9th Battalion, HLI.)
This map is from the 12th HLI’s war diary. The British held the ground at the bottom of the map and were attacking towards the top of the map aiming to capture the rest of the village, see the blue pencil line in the top left.
The attack began on the 15th, with 12th HLI in support (close behind the frontline battalions). Two companies were sent forward around 9am. Possibly as a part of this move, James’s platoon was advancing when a German shell burst killed him and several others.
The photo above from Google Earth is on the same orientation as the map, looking east – James was probably killed near the edge of the village closest to the camera.
Martinpuich was captured with at least 600 prisoners, and the attack was regarded as very successful.
James was probably buried where he died. After the war he was re-buried at Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz.
On his headstone are the words “BELOVED SON OF ARCHIBALD AND MARIE McFARLANE “ATHERSTONE”, BEARSDEN”
Appendix
James’s father’s company was J & A McFarlane. From this link:
J. & A. McFarlane, Domestic Machinery Manufacturers, Albert Works, Houldsworth Street, Cranstonhill.—
The well-known house of Messrs. J. & A. McFarlane, proprietors of Albert Works in Houldsworth and Port Streets, Cranstonhill, holds a high position as a representative Glasgow concern in the branch of industrial activity with which it is associated. This notable firm commenced operations in 1870 under the present title of J. & A. McFarlane, the founders of the concern being the two gentlemen whose names are severally indicated in that style.
The industry has been most ably and vigorously developed under this enterprising proprietary, and the Albert Works have now a standard reputation and a widespread fame as a first-rate productive source for laundry, dairy, and domestic machines and utensils, as well as all kinds of coopery and wood turnery. They have long been famous for their household mangles and wringing machines.
Besides the Albert works, the Messrs. McFarlane have large reserve stores, conveniently situated in Cranston Street and Elmbank Lane. In the latter they hold a complete stock of seasoned timber suitable for their various manufactures, it being a most creditable point with them that all goods sent out will be of thoroughly seasoned material. The works are extensive, forming a hollow rectangle 1,500 square yards in area, with open space in centre, giving excellent yard facilities. The mechanical equipment is of the most elaborate and effective order, and a large staff of mechanics, machine men, turners, joiners, and coopers are employed in the various departments of the business. They have carefully and perseveringly developed their industry in all descriptions of domestic woodware, and their numerous and most useful productions are all completed by specially adapted machinery on American principles.
In domestic machinery and wooden ware Messrs. McFarlane hold the most extensive stock both in quantity and variety in Scotland, and they have recently prepared a sample-room contiguous to their counting-house, where they exhibit specimens of all the different articles they produce and deal in, so that customers and other visitors will find in display a full range of the goods mentioned in the firm’s catalogue. This catalogue commands a word or two of remark, inasmuch as the space at the disposal of the present brief sketch precludes any extended enumeration of Messrs. McFarlane’s host of valuable, novel, and noteworthy specialities. The catalogue is decidedly one of the neatest and best got up works of the kind that could be desired. It is a book in every sense of the word, beautifully printed, with title-page in gold and colours, elaborately illustrated with excellent woodcuts, handsomely bound and gilt lettered, printed on fine paper, and packed with information and full details respecting the manufactures of the house. Altogether the catalogue is a distinct credit to the printer, the bookbinder, the compiler, and the firm under the auspices of whose policy of spirited enterprise it has been brought out and published. It cannot fail to be of the greatest convenience to the customers of the firm, and has both utility and elegant appearance to recommend and preserve it from the loss or destruction which too frequently befalls even the most elaborate and laboriously compiled works of this kind.
Messrs. McFarlane are extensive importers of the best classes of Continental and American goods in their line, and in the latter country they have a resident buyer. They are contractors to the Admiralty, and are at present busily engaged executing a large order for articles required on board her Majesty’s ships. They have been specially appointed agents for Messieurs. E. Mouroy et Cie., Paris (seltzogenes), and also for a first-class Vienna house in fancy brass goods. They do business only with the trade, and send their goods all over the three kingdoms. Their commercial connections are especially valuable and well founded in London, where a large and always increasing demand exists for goods of the McFarlane brand ; and with the vigorous enterprise that has always characterised the conduct of this representative business, important and influential export trading relations are being steadily and continuously opened up and established in all the British colonies.
Before closing this brief sketch it may be remarked that the variety of articles manufactured by the firm on their own premises enables them to make the fullest use of their machinery, and prevents the waste of material ; while the business of the various departments can be more economically carried on under one commercial system, and no doubt a much wider connection formed than where the manufacturers confine themselves to the production of one or two specialities. They are showing all their leading lines at the forthcoming exhibition at Melbourne. Mr. G. H. Adams, of Flinders Street in that city, is their Australian representative.
Here are some surviving examples of the firm’s products. First, a butter churn:
Second, a box (with padlock) for 8 dozen eggs:
Here is the site of the works on the corner of Port Street in 2024:
And looked at from the Finnieston Street side:
For comparison, here are the original works i.e. the two-storey building beyond the four-storey Brown & Tawse building on the right:
