Corporal James McPhie is one of 74 Scots who was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the presence of the enemy during the First World War.
James McPhie was born in Edinburgh on 18 December 1894, the son of Allan McPhie, commission agent, and Elizabeth McPhie.
Eight members of the McPhie family – including a seven-year-old James – appear in the 1901 Census living at Salisbury Street in Edinburgh, a long-since demolished road that ran between Pleasance and Dumbiedykes.
By the time of the 1911 census James McPhie, aged 16, an upholsterer’s apprentice, was living with his widowed mother, two sisters and a brother, as well as his aunt and a nephew at 112 Rose Street, Edinburgh.
James McPhie joined the army in 1914 and by 1918, he was serving with the 416th Field Company, Royal Engineers.
In October of 1918, the military breakthroughs of recent months had ended four years of largely static trench warfare, with huge Allied advances all over the Western Front. The outcome of the war was no longer in doubt, as German High Command made representations for an Armistice to the President of the United States. Even so, the German Army – crippled by shortages in manpower and munitions, and retreating steadily before the advancing Allies – continued to fight doggedly and ferociously.
On 14 October 1918, Corporal McPhie was part of a team of sappers at the Canal De La Sensee near Aubencheul-au-Bac, in the Nord Department of France. When a cork bridge that infantry were using to cross the canal began to sink and break up under enemy fire, threatening to strand men who had already crossed, McPhie and a fellow sapper jumped into the water to make repairs.
McPhie’s Victoria Cross citation records that after this attempt had failed, McPhie said “It is death or glory work which must be done for the sake of our patrol on the other side” and, in full daylight and under close fire, he stepped onto the bridge to make a fresh attempt at repairs. He was struck several times by enemy fire and was killed.
His citation also notes that “It was due to the magnificent example set by Corporal McPhie that touch was maintained with the patrol on the enemy bank at a most critical period”.
Cpl. James McPhie VC is buried at the Naves Communal Cemetery Extension near Cambrai, close to where he fell.
McPhie’s pay book will records his personal details and contains a short, signed statement that in the event of his death, his possessions should pass to his mother, Elizabeth McPhie. Many soldiers willed their possessions to their wives, mothers and other close relations in this way.
James’s mother Elizabeth accepted her son’s Victoria Cross medal from King George V at an investiture ceremony in 1919. She continued to live at the family’s home on Rose Street until she died in the 1930s. In 1966, two of James’s siblings gifted their brother’s Victoria Cross medal to the Imperial War Museum.
McPhie’s name is one of many that were recorded on a memorial plaque at St George’s Church at Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, a short walk from the McPhie family’s home. James’s name appears alongside those of many others from the church’s congregation who died in the First World War.
Copyright and courtesy of Historic Environment Scotland.
Corporal McPhie’s story is one of millions that can be traced using NRS records, including our ancestry research service ScotlandsPeople. You can find guidance on how to search the wills of over 26,000 Scottish soldiers and airmen at ScotlandsPeople here.
Open Book 
James McPhie was my grandfather’s cousin. We went to a commemoration in Edinburgh on 28th October 2018.
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The Memorial bench to James McPhie & Royal Engineers is currently being renovated by Edinburgh council and will be returned back to the same place in Princes St Gardens under the Royal Scots Grey statue.
Disappointly it wont be back for Armistice day as the target date for return is the 15th Nov. 18.
kind regards
Graham McPhie (Grand Nephew of James McPhie)
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The memorial bench in West Princes St Gardens to James McPhie and the Royal Engineers is being renovated by Edinburgh council and will be returned back to its original position under the Royal Scots Grey statue. Disapointingly it will not be returned by Armistice day as the current target date is the 15th Nov18.
kind regards
Graham McPhie (Grand Nephew of James McPhie VC)
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Thanks Dee, Graham,
That solves one mystery – I spent my lunch hour looking for this bench for a photograph to accompany this article, so that explains why I couldn’t find it! You wouldn’t believe how many tourists I asked to move so I could check the dedications on the benches they were sitting on… Ross
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Hi Ross
Yes It should be there at the end of this week back under the Royal Scots Grey statue I now know the Head Gardner of Princes St Gardens so any issues and I can contact him again.
I’m going to get my son to check and I’ll likely go in at the weekend to take photographs as well, I’m currently trying to find out more detail on James’s full war record.
best regards
Graham
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Ross,
To confirm the Bench has now been returned back to the same position under the Royal Scots Grey statue.
NB: There is also now a memorial stone to JM at the corner of Brown St Edin nearest to where he was born.
best regards
Graham
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Thanks for letting us know Graham, it’s good to know it’s back where it belongs.
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Hello when I was a wee boy I used to play in Warriston cemetery at soldiers and me and my pals used to periodically clear the plants back off a gravestone commemorating James and other members of his family (early 70s). I was back in Edinburgh a few months ago and was disappointed to be unable to find it again due to the conditions in the cemetery,a proper jungle.I will be back in Edinburgh in November and will have another go this time armed with a machete.I was worried that there was no memorial to this brave lad and went online with a view to contacting his regiment about this but am chuffed to see this is not the case RIP James McPhie VC. Cheers Chris Grubb chrisgrubb1@icloud.com
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Sad to say but there’s nothing left where the MacPhie gravestone was it was for his mum and dad “and our son” buried in France I can remember this still,if anyone is interested I can still show you where it was RIP James MacPhie VC, Bravo
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Hi Chris,
Yes I would be interested in seeing the location of where the gravestone was as I knew about it but I never seen where it was actually located.
Fyi only: The name McPhie is mis spelt above in the Memorial panel which was located in St Georges church as MacPhie, this Memorial panel is no longer there now, the correct spelling is McPhie.
Kind regards
Graham
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Reply
Hi Chris,
Yes I would be interested in seeing the location I knew about it but I’ve never seen the location.
Fyi only The name MacPhie in the memorial plaque at St Georges church above is mis spelt as it should be McPhie, St Georges church is no longer there now.
kind regards
Graham
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Hello apologies for the delay in replying, I am stuck in London due to lockdown but will be back up the road to see my Ma next month,sorry about the Mc/Mac mistake.The grave was in the SW corner of the “Gravey” next to the “Puddicay” (Water of Leith) close to what was the railway line actually a nice spot.When I’m back up I will take pictures and post proper coordinates,if you wish it would be my pleasure to show you personally.Last time I was there I had to climb over the wall to get in as the Warriston road entrance was locked and obviously had been for a long time but I think you probably can get in from the Inverleith end no
problem.My email is chrisgrubb1@icloud.com Cheers Chris
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Thank you Chris and Graham for your following up on the McPhie grave site. Elizabeth McPhie was my great great Aunt. Her brother Philip Roger Brennan was my maternal grandmothers father. I live in NZ and only found out about the link when I started to delve into genealogy and researched a photo and article on James in my grandmother’s album. With everyone passed on I had no one to collaborate with.
I did spend a short time in Edinburgh in 2007 and now only wished I had discovered the family link prior to this.
Is there anyway of restoring the headstone?
Fran
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Hi Fran
Good to hear from you, Chris and I are going to search Warriston cemetery hopefully next month to see if we can locate the Headstone and look at what could be done in the restoration of the Headstone or some another potential option.
There are a number of factors to take into account as Warriston has fallen badly into disrepair over many years and unfortunately also hit badly by vandals.
James grave is in France I previously liaised with the Commonwealth War Graves (CWGC) to amend his DOB on his grave Headstone that is now complete, so its a memorial Headstone that is in Warriston. If you are ever back in Edinburgh there is a memorial bench in Princes St Gardens and also a memorial Stone at the Pleasance where James grew up that you could visit.
James only had one brother John who was my grandfather both were in WW1 together, I would be interested to see what article that you have on James in case its something I don’t already have.
The French mayor at the village where James was killed contacted the family to attend the 100 year WW1 in 2018 and a booklet was put together of the trip which I can send you as I’m not sure if you can upload a doc onto ‘Open Book’ my email address is grahammcphie@gmail.com.
NB: James is mentioned in a number of books about VC’s there is an author who is covering all the VC holders from the Western Front in detail never written before. The author has investigated each individual VC for decades and as James was killed only a matter of days from the end of WW1 its now his turn. I’ve seen some notes and they are very detailed so the draft is currently being worked on that I will see first however likely a couple of years yet before publication as there is a few VC holders in each book.
kind regards
Graham
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Hello Fran, my email is chrisgrubb1@icloud.com there is a plan of sorts contact me or Graham Cheers Chris
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Hi Chris, Sorry about the delay replying. I had only a photo of Elizabeth and Allan McPhie and a yellowed paper aryical about him and his VC with photos etc I have inherited with the passing of family and a growing interest to find out more of my geneology for my family.. It was only research that shoed he was my Great Grandfathers nephew. I had heard nothing about him prior to this.
I have had an email from Christine McPhie enquiring where his grandmother Maryanne Brennan who also resided I believe in Rose Street, was buried and wonderd if she had shared the McPhie gravesite with Elizabeth.
I would be interested to chase up on that if I can.
Hoping you are getting a better spring than we had last year? All our seasons are getting later and later. Very warm dry autumn still here but colder weather on the way.
My email address is andypfl@hotmail.com.
Cheers
Fran
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Very nice to hear from you, I am not McPhie family, I believe that you are conversing with Graham,he is without question one of your lot! I found it interesting what you had to say about the weather.At this moment in SE England we are experiencing a typical early April,problem is its late May this obviously is not good for the swallows no food!
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Hello Fran from the Diaspora! chrisgrubb1@icloud.com
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