Introducing Gunner James Reid
James was born on the 24th of October 1914 at Canmore street. Son of James
Reid Senior and Mary Jane Reid (née Cunningham). His father was originally
from Larne and worked as a stager in the shipyard, his mother was a spinner
and came originally from Scotland.
James was married to Eileen Rebecca Mitchell in 1934 at St. Matthew's Church
of Ireland on the Shankill and had two daughters and resided at Ottawa
street.
James Reid followed in his father's footsteps into service and enlisted on
the 1st May 1939, with the 8th [Belfast) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal
Artillery {Supplementary Reserve}.
James Reid senior who served throughout the 'Great War' and then with the
Ulster Home Guard during The Second World War.
James brother Thomas had served with the 2nd Battalion the Royal
Inniskilling Fusiliers and was Killed in Action in July 1943 during
Operation Husky during the Sicily landings.
James himself enlisted with the 8th (Belfast) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment
Royal Artillery and served with the 23rd Battery. They went to France in
1940 and were stationed at Hanfleur under 79th HAA Regiment, after France
fell they arrived back in England and helped defend the UK during the Blitz
until late 1942 when the whole of the 8th Regiment were sent out to Calcutta
onboard the Belfast built ship RMS Britannic and placed under the command of
1st Indian A.A. Brigade.
The 8th was ordered out to Comilla and the 23rd Battery were sent onto
Agartala to deploy by 16th of October. The Regiment were the first to take
large calibre guns across the Brahmaputra Pass.
When it was time to return home, they returned to Belfast, coincidentally
another Belfast built ship the RMS Stirling Castle.
At the end of his wartime service, James stayed on with the Royal Artillery
reserves until 1954, when he was discharged for "His services are no longer
required on re-enlistment into the Territorial Army". His military conduct
was “Exemplary”.
Resources:
War Years Remembered Archive
CWGC
Ancestry
Forces War Records
FindMypast
Lennonwylie.co.uk
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burmastar.org.uk/stories/8th-belfast-corps/
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