Name
James Thomas Winterbourne (MM)
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
15553
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial, Watford, Tewin Village Memorial, St Peter’s Church Muster Roll, Tewin
Pre War
James Thomas Winterbourne was born in Islington, Middlesex on 5 December 1896, the son of James and Florence Winterbourne (nee Shadbolt) and baptised on 27 December 1896 at Holy Trinity, Haverstock Hill, London. The following year his parents married on 10 January 1897 at St Luke’s, West Holloway, London.
On the 1901 Census, aged 4, he was living in Tewin, with his "aunt and uncle", John and Fanny Shadbolt and their three children, although they were in fact his grandparents. In 1911, when he was 14 he still was living with them at Upper Green, Tewin.
His parents were living in Graveley in 1911 and later lived at 31 Judge Street, Watford, Herts. (His father died 1937 aged 73, and his mother in 1949 aged 72, both are buried in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.)
Wartime Service
James enlisted in Bedford and joined the 7th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. They left from Folkestone, arriving at Boulogne, France on 26 July 1915. At some point he was promoted to Corporal.
Unfortunately, James’ Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. He was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry and devotion to duty under fire and this was listed in the London Gazette on 16 December 1916.
He was killed in action on 3 May 1917 during the The Third Battle of the Scarpe (Battle of Arras) and has no known grave. His name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His father James received a war gratuity of £13 and pay owing of £17 19s 1d.
His grandfather John Shadbolt applied for a pension in respect of James which was refused on 26 February 1918 as he was "not in pecuniary need or aged and infirm". His father then applied and was granted a pension of 5 shillings a week.
N.B. his father enlisted in Watford in September 1914, aged 45, having previously served with the Scots Greys. He was appointed Lance Corporal in April 1915, then Acting Corporal, but reverted to Driver on admission to Hospital in December 1915. He was discharged on 2 May 1917 as no longer physically fit for war service. Five children are listed as his dependents on his service record but James is not included.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Jonty Wild, www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk, Brenda Palmer, Paul Johnson, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk
