Name
George James
Circa 1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/12/1918
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
35626
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
7th Bn.
‘D’ Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HONNECHY BRITISH CEMETERY
Plot I Row B Grave 1
France
Headstone Inscription
ABIDE WITH ME
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Hitchin British Boys' School Memorial, Hitchin
Pre War
We believe that George’s parents were Daniel and May Ann James. Confusingly in Ancestry there are two different dates for the christening of a George James, both record him as the son of Daniel and May Ann James - 18 May 1886 and 22 May 1889, both christened in Hitchin. This is difficult to explain, we do know that one of their children did die, perhaps this is the case with one the George’s, but clearly this may not be the case and perhaps it is a transcription error, or, and more unlikely there are two married couples called Daniel and May Ann James.
From the census the birth for the George we are researching would be approximately 1889 (1891 and 1901 census), and therefore we believe that the latter christening date is the relevant one.
So we believe that George was born around 1889 in Hitchin and his parents were Daniel and Mary Ann James (née Bottoms) they married in 1878.
In 1891 the family were living at 37 Bedford Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: Daniel (34) and Mary (31). Daniel was now a bricklayer. Their children were: John (13), Kate (9), Samuel (8), Ruth (4) and George (2).
George attended Hitchin British Boys' School, leaving in 1903
In 1901 the family and moved but only to 30 Bedford Road, Hitchin. Both parents were present, Daniel still a bricklayer. Of the children John was absent, the others were present and had been joined by Era (8), Daniel (6), Arthur (4), Mary Ann (2) and Gladys Mary at just two months.
By 1911 the family had moved again, but again not far and were at 40 Bedford Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents and children: Ruth, Arthur and Mary. George was absent. The census recorded they had been married for 33 years with 10 children, of whom 1 had died.
George has not yet been found in the 1911 census. There is a George James that seems to fit, he was at a soldier with the 4th Dragon Guards at Preston Military Barracks Lewes Road Preston Brighton, but other information suggests that George did not go to France until 1918, so this is unlikely to be him, unless he had previously been discharged before he had been fully trained.
George’s mother died in the second quarter of 1915 shortly before he married Catherine Elizabeth Kent (b 1/10/1884), in 1915.
Wartime Service
He joined the Army in June 1918 and was given the Regimental Number 35626. He went to France on the 4th October 1918 as a Company stretcher-bearer in ‘D’ Company of the 7th Battalion.
Having survived the war, his wife must have thought him safe, so would have been deeply shocked to receive the news of his death in an accident. The news was conveyed in a letter from George’s company Lieutenant and read: “Dear Mrs James, it is with deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your husband, Pte. G. James, of my Company. During salvage work yesterday a German shell was accidentally dropped --- exploded --- killing seven of my best men. Poor James was killed at instantaneously and suffered no pain. The funeral took place here at Malincourt, in the cemetery, and was a most impressive ceremony. The whole of the Battalion was present and paid its last regrets. It is dreadful to think that he should be killed during the Armistice, but has died like a man for his country. I shall miss him greatly for he was one of my best private bearers, and he's done some awfully good work. He was a very good fellow. I am sending you the burial certificate which I know you would like to have. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy, and believe me, yours sincerely, F. W. Greenwood. Lieutenant, O.C. D company, 7th, the Buffs.”
There were two articles found in local papers, they provided the details above and recorded that he had no children. One reported that both of his parents were dead but in fact his father was still alive and still living in Hitchin
His body was relocated after the war, identified by a regimental cross and his general service buttons, and he was reburied as part of the concentration of cemeteries and now rests in Plot 1, Row B, Grave 1 in the Honnechy British Cemetery in France.
Additional Information
His widow, Catherine Elizabeth James, ordered his headstone inscription while living at 42, Bedford St., Hitchin, Herts., in reads: “ABIDE WITH ME”.
After his death 15s 4d was authorised to go to his widow on 31 March 1919 and then another £7 13s 4d, including a £5 war gratuity, was authorised to be paid to her, on 1 May 1919.
His pension cards record that his widow was his dependant, living at 42 Bedford Street, Hitchin. She was awarded a grant of £5 on 16 January 1919 and a pension of 13s 9d a week from 7 July 1919.
George’s eldest brother John died after serving in Gallipoli. Two other brothers served, one in France and the other in the Navy. Samual who enlisted in the Royal Engineers in 1902 aged 19 and was discharged in February 1914 after completing his term of engagement, so he would have been in the Army Reserve when war was declared. He was recalled to serve in March 1915, however he was clearly unhappy about that as he deserted in May and presumably punished.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
