Basic Details
Surname
Crombie
Forenames
James MacHattie
Gender
Male
Information stated on memorial
Served or died
Died
Notes
His biography on the college website states: ‘James Machattie was born in Bromley, Kent, the third son of Dr James Crombie, a general practitioner trained in Edinburgh, and his wife Mary Marshall Crombie of “Highden“, Sidcup, Kent. He was killed in Belgium. His obituary in The Times on 07/07/1917 read: 'Second Lieutenant James MacHattie Crombie, Royal West Kent Regiment, who died on July 2 of a wound received on June 25 while wiring in front of the line, was the third and youngest son of Dr and Mrs Crombie, of Sidcup, Kent. He was educated at Merton College, Sidcup, and the College, Epsom. He had belonged to the Epsom College O.T.C. for five years and was cadet officer and head-prefect during his last year there. In June 1916, he gained a Military Exhibition at Christ Church, Oxford. After his training at the cadet school he was gazetted to the Royal West Kent Regiment and went to the front last January. His death took place a few days after his 20th birthday. His elder brother, Captain Ian Osborne Crombie, Middlesex Regiment, was killed on the Somme in July, 1916.'
The third brother, William Maurice Crombie, Captain, Indian Medical Service died on 17 February 1919, and is buried in Sidcup. All three are commemorated in Bexley. John's Estate amounted to £266 6s 6d, administration granted to his father.
Primary Service
Our References
Service (Primary - Our reference)
Unit (Primary - Our reference)
Rank / Title (Primary - Our reference)
Death and Burial details
Country of death
Belgium
Town of death
Ypres
Country of burial
Belgium
Town of burial
Poperinghe
Cemetery
Lyssenthoek British Military Cemetery
Year of death
1917
Month of death
July
Day of death
2
Age at death
20
Manner of death reference
Died of Wounds