Name
James Thomas Witham
14/07/1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/07/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
203267
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DOZINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY
I. J. 21.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Cheshunt memorials
Pre War
James Thomas Witham was born on 14th July 1890, in Enfield, Middlesex, son of James Witham a Labourer and Sarah Ann Witham (nee Negus). One of ten children.
James Jr. was Baptised on 12th October 1890, at St James church, Enfield, Middx, at the time the family were living in Lock Lane, Enfield Highway, Middx.
1891 Census records James Jr. aged 8 months, living with his parents, and two older sisters, Alice (6) and Agnes (2), at 4 Alma Road, Enfield, Middx.
No 1901 Census for James Jr. was found. His parents, five sisters and brother Thomas (Tony) are living at 7 Grove Place, Enfield, Middx.
1911 Census, James Jr. (20) is working as a Labourer, living with his parents, Five sisters and brothers Thomas (16) and Charlie (6) at 1 Albert Cottages, Grove Road West, Enfield Wash, Middx.
James married Ada Boxall from Enfield, the daughter of James Henry and Emma Boxall, in 1911, they went on to have four children, Albert James, Edward, Frederick George, and Alfred Charles Witham.
Wartime Service
James Jr. travelled to the County Town of Hertford to enlist, posted to the Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 203267. On completion of his training, he was sent to the Western Front.
James Jr. was wounded in Action and taken to No 4. Casualty Clearing Station at Dozinghem in Belgium, where he died on 21st July 1917, of his wounds. He is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery in Belgium. It is believed James Jr. was attached to the 177th Tunnelling Company at the time of his death.
Additional Information
Ada received a widow’s pension of £1-11s-03d, a week from 21st January 1918, and his effects of £3-2s-5d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £3.
Ada remarried on 5th August 1918, at Saint Andrews Church, Enfield, Middx, to Thomas Dickenson Atkins.
His younger brother Private L/14434 Thomas Witham, a Regular Soldier serving with the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, was killed in Action on 15th June 1914.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
