Name
James Fassnidge
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/04/1917
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
32218
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Bushey Memorial, Clay Hill, St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey, Tunbridge Wells War Memorial, Kent
Pre War
Born in the third quarter of 1879 and registered in the Tunbridge district, James Fassnidge was the eldest son of James (Snr.) and Charlotte (née Tapping) Fassnidge.
Their marriage was registered in the second quarter of 1877 in the Amersham district (Buckinghamshire). James (Snr.) was a bookseller from Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Charlotte was born in the second quarter of 1848, registered in the Amersham district. James died 13 February 1909 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, aged 54, and was buried 16 February; Charlotte died 1932 in the Battle, Sussex, district aged 83, and was buried 19 March; both in Tunbridge Wells Cemetery.
On the 1881 Census, James was aged one and living in Chalfont St Peter, Bucks, with his Fassnidge grandparents, John and Ann. At the 1891 Census, he was aged 11 and back living with his parents (James aged 36 and Charlotte aged 43) at 46, Grosvenor Road Tunbridge Wells, Kent. He had five siblings; Mary Louisa (b Q1 1878), Annie (b Q1 81), Ellen Miriam (b Q1 83), Ada Kate (b Q3 84) and John Tapping (b Q1 86).
Ten years later at the 1901 Census, John was a footman, aged 21, living in Torrington, Devon.
James married Florence Slater (born 9 February 1868 in Richmond, Yorks.) at All Souls Church, Marylebone on 21 December 1908. Florence’s father was Sergeant Major in the 83rd regiment and his residence at the time of the marriage was given as the Portland Hotel.
Florence joined James at Bushey, where he was employed as the butler at Bushey Grange. Florence worked there as a maid and housekeeper in the service of Mrs Burchell-Herne. When Florence was 41, they had a daughter (born 9 March 1911) called Evelyn Florence.
At the 1911 Census, Florence’s mother Charlotte was a widow and still living in Tunbridge Wells at 21, Thomas Street with Annie (30) and Ada Kate (26).
Wartime Service
James enlisted with the Bedfordshire Regiment and served as Private 32218 in the 6th Battalion on the Western Front. He was killed in action, aged 39, on 25 April 1917 during the Battle of Arras in the front line east of the Rouex-Gavrelle Road and was buried in the Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery at Arras.
James is commemorated on the Bushey Memorial and at St James’ Parish Church in Bushey. He is also commemorated on the Tunbridge Wells Memorial and his pension card gives his mother’s address as 49, William Street, Tunbridge Wells.
There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for James in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 26 May 1917.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals
Florence never remarried and died in 1925 in Bushey, Herts, aged 55, and was buried St James’ church. James (Snr.) died, aged 54, in February 1909 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent and Charlotte died, aged 83, in the district of Battle, Sussex. They were both buried in Tunbridge Wells Cemetery. Florence never remarried and died 1925, aged 55, in Bushey, Herts.
Additional Information
There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for James in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 26 May 1917. He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar. Unfortunately, James’ Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
