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Auction: 17002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 252

(x) 'On a summer's day in 1895 a Trooper of the Ayrshire Yeomanry rode down from Kilwinning to Ayr to join his regiment. He was dressed in the blue tunic with yellow facings and blue breeches with yellow side stripe that earned the Ayrshire Yeomanry their nickname, "The Yella Yorlins." On his head he wore the black busby with scarlet side flap that was his particular pride. That busby cost more than the rest of the uniform together. Every night it was brushed reverently with a wet brush and replaced in its box to be withdrawn next morning from the other end so that the pile was undisturbed. He was a young Trooper, just seventeen years of age, and he cherished that busby … All that sounds like a history lesson and, indeed it is, but this particular young Trooper was James Shanks. James Shanks is now ninety years of age, still living, still working, and still riding horses. He now lives at Nutholm, near Lockerbie, and although he has transferred his farm to his youngest son, William, Mr. Shanks has by no means retired.'

A charming article in The Scots Magazine, March 1969, refers.

A rare Great War and long service group of four awarded to Squadron Quarter-Master Sergeant J. 'Jimmy' Shanks, 1/1st Ayrshire Yeomanry, late Imperial Yeomanry, who was well-known to his fellow yeomen for his prowess and riding skills: 'a horseman among horsemen', he was still competing in Point to Point competitions in his 60s

1914-15 Star (357 Sq. Q.M. Sjt. J. Shanks, Ayr Yeo.); British War and Victory Medals (357 Sq. Q.M. Sjt. J. Shanks, Ayr Yeo.); Imperial Yeomanry L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (357 Sjt. J. Shanks, Ayrshire I.Y.), together with the recipient's 'Imperial Service' badge and Ayrshire (Earl of Carrick's Own) Yeomanry cap badge, generally very fine (6)

James 'Jimmy' Shanks was born at Sunnyside Farm, near Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, on 14 January 1878. As related above, he joined the Ayrshire Imperial Yeomanry as a Trooper in May 1895, the commencement of a successful career marked by numerous riding accolades and awards. Much to his regret, however, he did not witness active service in the Boer War.

Nonetheless, he gained steady advancement, being promoted to Sergeant in June 1904 and awarded his Imperial Yeomanry L.S. & G.C. in August of the following year. Re-enlisting in the newly established Territorial Force in May 1908, Shanks was advanced to Squadron Quarter-Master Sergeant on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914.

It was in this capacity that he was embarked for Egypt with 1/1st Ayrshire Yeomanry in September 1915, from whence he came ashore at Cape Helles, Gallipoli on 9 October. Having undertaken a period of training with the 1/4th Royal Scots Fusiliers in the 'Vineyard' sector, the Ayrshires went into action at 'Hope Street' in early November, where they took and held valuable ground: part of the captured line was duly named 'Carrick Street'. Of this action, fellow yeoman Major W. T. R. Houldsworth wrote in his diary:

'Occasionally the word was passed down, 'stretcher bearers wanted', and shortly afterwards a little party would return bearing the stretcher with its human load. This was the first fight in which we had taken a part, and nothing perhaps brought home the grim reality of it all than when I would see a procession pass by, or when walking along the line I would come across the lifeless form of some poor fellow laid out on the firing step awaiting removal, the bloodstains on the blanket in which he was wrapped standing out conspicuously in the pale light of the moon … '

Withdrawn from the peninsula at the end of December, and having suffered further casualties during a heavy Turkish bombardment in the same month, Shanks and his comrades were deployed to the defence of the Suez Canal. This period of service marked the closing chapter in his long career and he was embarked for the U.K. to take his discharge in May 1916.

Of his remaining life and times, a fine account appears in the pages of The Scots Magazine, March 1969: farmer and horse dealer - and quite fearless rider - he died in March 1971, aged 92; sold with a file of copied research, including The Scots Magazine article.


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Sold for
£900