Name
James Henry Gurdler
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/09/1916
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3695
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
COUIN BRITISH CEMETERY
IV. A. 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial,
St. Peter's C & E Primary School Memorial, Mill End,
Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
James was born in Rickmansworth in 1883 and baptised there on the 25th of November. His parents were Henry, a Labourer, and Sarah Ann (nee Miles) Gurdler.
In 1891 with their six children they were living Church Street, Rickmansworth. In 1901 the family was in Uxbridge Road, Mill End, James age 17, being a General Labourer. In 1910 James married Ethel Agnes Groom and in 1911 they were living 2 Tannery Uxbridge Road, Mill End with their daughter Ethel. James’s father Henry was with them and also his brother Horace and sister Queenie. His mother, age 42, was listed as a Laundry Washer visiting Caleb Shepherd age 45, at Chapel Row, Uxbridge Road, Mill End. With her were her children Rosina age 20, a General Servant, Francis 6, and Alfred 3.
In 1919 Ethel married John Ansell and their daughter Hilda was born in 1920.
Recorded as enlisting in Hertford.
Wartime Service
The 1st Battalion was a territorial unit which was immediately mobilised when war broke out.
They landed in France in November 1914, serving in the trenches in the closing stages of First Ypres, and also seeing action at Cuinchy February 1915, Festubert May 1915, and later, having transferred to 6th Brigade, Loos. The winter of 1915/16 was spent in the Artois area, and then, in February 1916, the Battalion transferred to 118th Brigade 39th Division.
James died of wounds in the 100th Field Ambulance at Couinon the 4th of September 1916. He was probably wounded the previous day in an unsuccessful attack on the enemy trenches north of the Ancre. That evening from 11.30pm to dawn they were also under attack from enemy gas shells.
Additional Information
Brother of Private William Gurdler who was killed in action on 28 Mar 1918 and of Private Horace Gurdler who died on 12 Nov 1918 and of Private Albert Gurdler who was killed in action on 22 Mar 1918. All are commemorated on these memorials.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Mike Collins, Jonty Wild
