26
Field Regiment RCA
XII
MB Dragoons
Museum
A Salty Dog Production
Brigadier James Kirkcaldy, CMG, DSO
James
Kirkcaldy (1866-1957)
Soldier,
Police Chief, Businessman and Civil
Servant
Born
at Abdie, Scotland on 18thMay
1866, Abdie is a parish in north-west Fife, lying on the south shore of
the Firth of Tay.Population approx.
400.Son of James Kirkcaldy and Helen
Brand.The Family name comes from
the Scottish word for church Kirk and Culdees an early Christian sect
in Ireland, Scotland and England. In the Middle Ages.
The
ruins of the oldThe
Firth of Tay
Abdie
parish church
Other
notable people from Abdie
Lt
Colonel Ninian Imrie of Denmuir Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
(FRSE). He was a Scottish army officer and geologist. He gave the first
wholly geological description of the Rock of Gibraltar.
Member
of the Black Watch 7 years
Staff
Instructor at Hythe School of Musketry in Kent England.
New
world of challenges
In
1891, he married Rosina Hannah Perry, Daughter of Joseph Perry of Hythe
England. Her birth date was in 1866, and she died on 19th December 1961
aged 95 years.
They
had seven children, Kathleen Rose, James Douglas, Archibald J, John A,
Helen, Minnie H, and Fred.
Brandon
In
1891 he arrived in Brandon, and worked for Mr. John Hanburys sawmill for
$1.50 a day.
Brandon
Police Service
The
following year he was appointed Chief of Police, the fourth Chief Constable,
of the City. Succeeding J. R. Foster, a position that he held for thirteen
years.
In
1905 he resigned as Chief Constable to operate the Empire Hotel in partnership
with James Smith.The hotel was opened
by Mr. D. Beaubier in June of 1904 after delays in construction. He took
on Smith and Kirkcaldy as partners.
The
building took extensive damage in 1910 when a fire tore through the top
floor which collapsed the roof.
The
1916
prohibition laws hit Brandon hotels hard. To increase revenue, the Empire
Hotel began to rent the ground floor of their building to the F. W. Woolworth
Co. The Woolworth Co. purchased the building in February, 1929.It
was knocked down in 1957 to allow the company to build a more modern department
store.The store was eventually converted
to ACC Adult Collegiate.
Empire
Hotel 725 Rosser Avenue
XII
MB Dragoons and 99th Manitoba Rangers
He
was a member of the Canadian Militia (XII Manitoba Dragoons) from 1907
to 1910 and Major of the 99th Manitoba Rangers in 1914.
XII
Manitboa Dragoons99th
Manitoba Rangers
8th
BN CEF (90th Winnipeg Rifles
He
joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in August 1914 serving as a Major
in the 8th Battalion CEF of the 90th Winnipeg Rifles. He was
wounded at the second Battle of Ypres and was invalided to Canada.
Winnipeg
RiflesBrigade
and Division Patch
78th
BN (Winnipeg Grenadiers)
He
then raised the 78th Battalion of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and took it to
France in 1916, serving at The Somme, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, Arras,
Amiens, and Cambria. On the death of Brigadier-General McBrien, he was
given Brigade Command, serving at Canal du Nord, Valenciennes, and Mons.
Winnipeg GrenadiersBrigade
and Division Patch
Decorations
and Medals
Brigadier
General Kirkcaldy was awarded, The Companion of the Order of Saint Michael
and Saint George, The Distinguished Service Order 03/02/17; first bar 06/07/18;
second bar 18/01/19; 1914-1915 Star; War Medal; Inter Alled
Victory medal and The French Croix de Guerre.He
returned to Canada in June 1919.
RIBBON
BAR ABOVE DECORATIONS AND MEDALS BELOW
CMGDSO
2 BARS1914
1915WAR MEDAL INTER ALLIEDFRENCH
CROIX
BEBESTAR
BEBEVICTORYDE
GUERRE
MEDAL
BE=British
empire medal or decoration
The
Citation
Lieutenant
Colonel James Kirkcaldy, D.S.O.
78th (Winnipeg Grenadiers) Battalion
For
conspicuous gallantry and resourceful leadership. When one of his companies
was held up by machine-gun fire, he took charge and overcame the opposition.
Later, by aggressive fighting, he got his battalion forward, and formed
a defensive flank, using a rifle himself and directing machinegun and
trench-mortar fire, and drove the enemy from their positions. His courage
and fighting spirit were an inspiration to all.
(Kirkcaldy
D.S.O. Citation, London Gazette, July 1918, 133)
City
Assessor and Alderman
In
October 1923, he was appointed as Brandon City Assessor. He served as an
Alderman on the Brandon City Council from 1934 to 1952, serving continuously
except for one year.
He
was President of the Brandon Winter Fair and the Brandon Livestock Assoc.
Wheat City Arena home of the Winter Fair after the Winter Fair Building burnt down
Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) horses were housed in the Winter Fair Building
which was located on the 600 Block of 10th street.On
29th October 1920, a fire that started in the RCMP horse barns.
Manager
of the Brandon Branch of the Government Liquor Control Commission
In
1923, the local Liquor Commission Store was selected to open on Seventh
Street, and Pacific Avenue: it was the premises occupied by the Dominion
Hardware & Lumber Company. The manager was James Kirkcaldy who received
the first shipment of Spirits and opened for business on 17thOctober.
James
Kirkcaldy was a member of the Brandon Lodge #19, the Masonic Order and
the Presbyterian Church.
Masonic
SealSt Pauls Presbyterian
Church
He
is commemorated by Kirkcaldy Drive and Kirkcaldy Heights School in Brandon.
Kirkcaldy
Heights SchoolKirkcaldy Avenue
On
behalf of the Commanding Officer
and
Soldiers of 26 Field Regiment RCA,
The
26 Field Regiment RCA/XII Manitoba Dragoons Museum and F.O.M.I.
Thank
you for attending and supporting the
38th
Annual Vimy Night
