Name
James Guy
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/09/1918
40
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
219343
Labour Corps
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BUSHEY (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD
Spec. Memorial.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial,
St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey
Pre War
Born in Bradford Peverell, Dorset and christened on 17 March 1878, James Guy was the son of John and Mary (née Biles) Guy. He was one of 15 children, 4 of whom died during childhood. Mary was born on 11 November 1886 and both her and John were born in Netherbury, Dorset.
At the 1881 Census, John and Mary were living at Langton Herring, Dorset with five children; William George (age 13), Emily (age 11, b Ringcombe), Charles (age 5), James (age 3), Suzanna (age 1). The birthplace given for John, Mary and William George is Beaminster, which is near Netherbury, whilst that for Charles, James and Suzanna is Skippet. There is a Lower Skippet Farm about one mile south west from Bradford Peverell, which may be where John was working as a shepherd.
At the 1891 the family is living at Coombe Barn, Weymouth Road, Preston, Dorset. John is still employed as a shepherd and both Charles (age 15) and James (age 13) are now shepherd boys. The birthplace for Charles, James and Suzanna (age 11) is now given as Bradford Peverell. There are also three more children Thomas (age 8 and born Wool), Annie (age 6 and born Portesham), Charlotte (b Q2 1886 at Piddletrenthide) and Fred (age 11 mths and born Preston). William George and Emily were no longer living with the family.
By the time of the 1901 Census, they had moved to 28, Herkomer Road, Bushey and now had one more child, Mary (age 8) born in Weymouth district. This is probably at Preston like Fred. Charles, Suzanna and Thomas were now also not living with the family.
By 1911 John and Mary had moved to 82, School Lane, Bushey. John is employed as a labourer with Bushey Urban District Council and James is also listed as a public works labourer on buildings. Thomas (age 29) is also living there as well as Clifford Allen (recorded as a step son age 21 and born in London.
When the family moved to 82 School Lane, Bushey, his father was employed as a labourer with Bushey Urban District Council.
In 1911 James was 31, single and living at home with his parents and one of his brothers. Like his father, he worked as a public works labourer.
Wartime Service
James enlisted as Private 219343 on 30 September 1916 and served in the 360 Reserve Labour Corps but became ‘disabled due to ordinary military service’ and was discharged 11 April 1918 to the Northern Sanatorium in Sheffield with ‘tuberculosis of the lungs’. He died on 4 September 1918, aged 40, in Ware, Hertfordshire. Formerly of the York and Lancaster Regiment.
He was buried in Bushey churchyard, where his is commemorated on a CWGC headstone. He is also commemorated on the Bushey Memorial and at St James’ Parish Church.
Additional Information
His headstone is non-standard and lists 4 men with the information "THOSE HONOURED HERE DIED IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND LIE BURIED IN THIS CHURCHYARD", suggesting that the position of these men's graves have been lost.
Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
