James Robert Caird

Key Information

Name: James Robert Caird
DoB:
 November 4 1892

Regt: 3rd King’s Own Scottish Borderers
DoD: April 23 1915
School Career: 1901-11
Biographical Information:

  • James Robert Caird was born in India in 1892; the son of a professional soldier and grandson of an MP and Scottish landowner. His grandfather was the Right Honourable Sir James Caird (1816-1892) of Cassencary, Kirkudbright; his grandmother was Margaret Henryson (1822-1863). Their youngest son Lindsay Henryson Caird (1861-1930) married Janet Laura Hunt in 1891. James was born the following year, but in the same year his mother died, possibly in childbirth. By the 1901 Census James was living with step mother and siblings in Bedford but father was a Major in the Border Regiment at Carlisle Castle. Presumably this was why young James came to the grammar school in Carlisle, where he also appears on the 1911 Census as a scholar. James’ uncle James married Mona Caird (Nee Alison) the feminist author. She knew Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the celebrated American feminist activist. Another uncle Robert Henryson Caird was very involved with Great Ormond Street Hospital.