Name
James Gurney
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14225
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
"B" Coy
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.
UK & Other Memorials
Wigginton Village Memorial.
Pre War
James Gurney was born in 1889 in Wigginton, Herts, the son of Charles Gurney (B 1862 in Wigginton) and Eliza Gurney (nee Dell) (B 1867 in Wigginton).
1891 Census records James age 2, living with his parents, Sister Annie 3 and brother William 1, at Bottom Row, Wigginton, Herts.
1901 Census records Janes age 12, at school, living with his parents, brothers William, Mark 2, Mathew 7 months, sisters Fanny 8, Lucey 6 and Edith 4, at Back of Brewhouse, Wigginton, Herts.
By 1911 James was working as a Farm Labourer, living at home with his parents, sisters Fanny, Lucy, Edith, Louisa 4, brothers Mark, Mathew, and George 5, at Back of Brewhouse, Wigginton Herts.
Wartime Service
James travelled to the County Town of Hertford to enlist, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the Service No. 14225. On completion of his training James was sent to France in August 1915.
James was Killed in Action on 27th September 1916. At the time of his death the 7th Battalion were taking part in the final assault on the Village of Thiepval.
The Battalion War Diaries records James as being in "B" Company at the time of his death on the 27th.
Additional Information
The value of his effects were £7-12s-9d, Pay owing and £8-10-0d, War Gratuity, which went to his Father Charles. His younger brother Private G/67233 Mark Gurney MM was Killed in Action on 26th October 1917, aged 19.
Acknowledgments
Gareth Hughes, Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild, Gareth Hughes, Stuart Osborne.
