Name
James William Titmus(s)
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/08/1917
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
G/29561
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 113 to 115
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Ayot St Lawrence Memorial, Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Codicote Village Memorial
Pre War
James William Titmuss (Stapleton) was born on 1 Jan 1886 in Hitchin, Herts to (Mary) Elizabeth (Eliza) Titmuss and James William Stapleton who married on 26 April 1886. He was baptised as James William Stapleton on 7 November 1886 at St Mary's, Hitchin.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 3 Taylor's Cottages, Hitchin where his father was working as a warehouseman. They remained there in 1911 and James was working as an Errand Boy to a Linen Draper. He married Florence Wicks (who was born in Ayot St Lawrence) in Hatfield in 1915. They lived at New Town, Codicote, Herts and had a daughter Florence Mary who was born on 12 January 1917.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hitchin in May 1916 and served in the Middlesex Regiment under Regimental Number G/29561 and was posted to France in September 1916, joining the 2nd Battalion which was in the 23rd Brigade of the 8th Division.
He was killed in action in Belgium having at first been reported as missing. At the time of his death the 2nd Battalion were at Westhoek Ridge adjacent to the Sexton House - Sans Souci Road and at 4.45am with a creeping barrage commenced an attack. The ranks were severely thinned by enemy shell and machine-gun fire.
James has no known grave, but is remembered on Panel 113 to 115 of the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing near Ypres in Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow Florence received a war gratuity of £4.10s and a pension of 18s 9d a week from 29 April 1918. A £5 grant was also paid on 29 May 1918.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Dunne, June Colegrove, Roll-of-Honour.com, David C Baines, Jonty Wild,
