B.A. (CANTAB).; CHEVALIER DE LA LÉGION D'HONNEUR; CAPTAIN AND ADJUTANT 6TH BATTALION THE CAMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES) LETTERS & MEMORIES OXFORD PRINTED FOR B. H. BLACKWELL BROAD STREET MCMXVI This little book has been written, in the first instance, because some of those who knew James have asked for it. And, secondly, it has been written for the sake of the Children whom he loved—the children of his Sister and of his Brother—who may ask for it one day, though they will never know how m

James Lusk was the elder son of the late John Lusk, Dunavon, Strathaven, Lanarkshire, his mother being a daughter of the late David Colville, Motherwell. He was born at Broomhouse, Lanarkshire, September 19th, 1878, and received his early education at Uddingston School and the West of Scotland Technical College, Glasgow. He entered St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1903, and took his degree in the Mechanical Sciences Tripos in 1905. He rowed in several Lady Margaret Crews. After taking his degre

Immediately after the declaration of War on the ever-memorable August 4th, 1914, the 6th Cameronians were sent to Falkirk. On August 7th Lieutenant Lusk was appointed Transport Officer of the Battalion, and in those first days of hurried preparations and dispositions, his work was to scour the country-side for the necessary horses and carts. The experience of the future months justified his selection of horses, and he used to display them with pride to his friends in their field at Bantaskine. T

The 6th Cameronians crossed from Southampton to Havre on Saturday, 20th March, 1915. The story of their arrival there, and of their first experience of the trenches, is told at length in the following letters:— MARCH 23, 1915. I am writing this in the train between —— and ——! This doesn't convey much information about our whereabouts, does it? ... On Saturday afternoon we got our horses and vehicles on to our ship straight from the train. The horses were led up an inclined gangway and were arran

The dark hour came for the 6th Scottish Rifles on June 15th, and in it Captain Lusk found his great opportunity for the service which he was at all times so ready to give. It was for that service that the French Government afterwards honoured him, and for it he is remembered by many in the Regiment and beyond it. His own account is contained in a letter to Colonel Kay, who was wounded at an early stage of the engagement:— THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 1915. DEAR COLONEL, You must be wearying for news of th

One of the last weeks of Captain Lusk's life was a specially busy one. He was summoned to take the place of the Brigade Major, while the latter was absent on leave. Before the letters which describe this work there are two or three others which are of special interest:— SABBATH NIGHT, NOV. 14, 1915. We had Service to-day in a sort of Hall in one of the wings of the Château of this village. Mr. Coutts officiated and did very well indeed, and we all like him. Fortunately a piano was available and

We are grateful to those who were beside James during his last days, for telling us about them, as well as for the loving care which they bestowed upon him, and the kind words of appreciation which they wrote. Captain Campbell was one of the last to be with him. He writes:— 'Poor Lusk was hit shortly after noon on Christmas Day. He had come up to the trenches[ 1 ] for his usual morning tour along with Major Graham. He had looked into Keith's and my 'dug-out,' and then gone along into 'A' Company