The death occurred on Sunday 11 January of (John) James Willie McDine the landlord of The Woodman Arms, Wootton Common, of who had been the landlord there since 1910.
He was born in Newport, son of the late James [his father], and following in his father’s footsteps joined the Black Watch Regiment at Parkhurst Barracks in 1880 at the age of 14. He was with the regiment for 15 years before transferring to the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders to go on the staff of the Old Volunteers.
In 1899 he rejoined his old regiment on the outbreak of the South African war [Boar War]. At the outbreak of the First World War he rejoined the army but invalided out [injury?].
He married Emily Chushen at St. Thomas in 1894, and records show children being born to the family during the period while living in Calbourne and Cowes before they moved to The Woodman Arms.
He was buried with full military honours, and at his funeral there were 70 men from the Royal Irish Rifles and their band from Parkhurst Barracks, Eight Warrant Officers acted as pallbearers. The coffin was escorted to St Marks Church for the service where many other mourners were waiting. Rev. T.A.B. Causton officiated.
Medals, DCMC at Magersfontien, Egyptian Medal with 4 bars [Nile; Tel-et-Kebir; Kerbekan & El Tel], Egyptian Star & South Africa Medal (Queens).
Source: Isle of Wight County Press