Name
James John Arthur Finch (MM)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/09/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
57575
Royal Field Artillery
51st Bty. 39th Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
COXYDE MILITARY CEMETERY
IV. C. 9.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
THY WILL BE DONE
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial, Church of St Nicholas Memorial, Harpenden, Not on the Potters Bar memorials
Pre War
James John Arthur was born in Potters Bar in 1890, the eldest son of Robert Alfred Finch, a house painter, and Margaret (nee Ewington). On the 1891 Census parents, Margaret E (born 1880), Edith Daisy (born 1889), and James were living at South Mimms.
On the 1901 Census parents, Margaret, Edith, James, Kathleen (born 1894), Thomas Robert (born 1896) and Helen Ethel (born 1900) were living at High Road South Mimms.
On the 1911 Census James was recorded at Cookham being a Gunner 57575 in the Royal Field Artillery 39 Brigade. His parents, Robert, Helen, Violet Maud (born 1902), Flora (born 1903), William Born 1915) and Sydney Frederick (born 1908) were living at 6 Newcombe Street, Harpenden.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of the Great War in Aug 1914, 39 Brigade RFA comprising 46, 51 and 54 Batteries together with the Ammunition Column were ordered to France to Become part of 1st Division of the British Expeditionary Force on 16 Aug 1914.
James had been promoted to Bombardier, and later Sergeant during his service. He was awarded the Military Medal for holding a position at Nieuport all day under fire when his Battery Sergeant Major was wounded. This action probably occurred during Operation Holdast when the Germans opened an Artillery Barrage on the British position around Nieuport (proposed Landings on Belgian Coast Jul 1917). James was killed in action on 28 Sep 1917 at Paschenadele.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £21 and arrears of £10 8s 4d was paid to stepmother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
