Name
James Gaylor
2 February 1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/02/1918
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14853
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
NOYON NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
IV. E. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
DEATH DIVIDES BUT MEMORY CLINGS
UK & Other Memorials
Little Berkhamsted Village Memorial
Pre War
James Gaylor was born in Little Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire on 2 February 1885, the son of George and Emma Gaylor, and was baptised on 29 March 1885 at Little Berkhamsted. He was one of seven children, although two died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Howe Green, Little Berkhamsted where both James and his father were working as farm labourers. By 1911 James was working as a horseman on a farm and was living with parents and siblings Harry and George.
Wartime Service
James and his brother Harry both enlisted at Hertford and joined the 7th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment and served in France from 26 July 1915.
The battalion war diary describes a ‘Hostile Bombing raid' at Salency on 11 February 1918 in which James may have been wounded. 'One bomb demolished a billet occupied by "C" Company. Casualties: - Killed; 9 other ranks. Died of Wounds; 1 officer & 2 other ranks. Wounded; 6 other ranks’.
James died of wounds on 11 February 1918, aged 33, and is buried in Noyon New British Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £16 and pay owing of £24 3s 4d. His mother received a pension of 12 shillings a week in respect of Harry and his brother James.
Brother to Harry Gaylor who also served with the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and died of wounds on 22 December 1915. He is buried in Meaulte Military Cemetery, France. He is also remembered on the Little Berkhamsted Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Martin Cope, Jim Maynard
