Name
James Herbert Reginald Lendrum
8 November 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/08/1918
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Chaplain 4th Class
NA
Army Chaplains' Department
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BIENVILLERS MILITARY CEMETERY
XIX. E. 14.
France
Headstone Inscription
UNITED IN TIME PARTED IN TIME TO BE REUNITED WHEN TIME SHALL BE NO MPRE
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Memorial, Apsley End,
Memorial Pew, St Mary's Church, Apsley End,
Kings College Chapel Memorial, London,
Sutton Valence School Chapel Memorial, Kent
Pre War
James Herbert Reginald Lendrum was born in Hornsey, Middx on 8 November 1886, the son of Robert and Clara Lendrum, and baptised on 16 September 1894 at Crouch End Christ Church, Haringey, London. He was one of seven children.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 50 May Crescent, Islington, where his father was a civil servant at the Board of Trade. By 1901 they had moved to 5 Cecile Park, Hornsey which was a much larger home. Sadly his mother died in 1908, aged 57.
He started school in Hornsey, later transferring to Sutton Valence School, Kent (boarding school), followed by University College, London, being listed as a student in 1909. He gained a BA and AKC (Associate of Kings College).
On the 1911 Census he was living at 128 Dunstable Road, Luton, Beds as a lodger at a boarding house. He was single and working as a secondary school teacher. He married Eleanor Mary Yates in Barnet in spring 1911 and in 1913 they were living at 141 Tennyson Road, Luton, South Beds. They had a daughter Margaret who was born in 1912. He then decided to leave teaching and train as an Anglican Priest.
He was appointed as Curate to Reverend Frederick Oliver Houseman, the vicar of St Mary's Church, Apsley End and was listed in the 1914 Kelly's Directory for Hertfordshire as living at Oakleigh, Manor Estate, Hemel Hempstead. He was Curate at St Mary's, Apsley End from 1913 -1918. His son John Frederick was born in February 1914 and another son Herbert Colin in November 1916.
James became a popular and well-respected figure in the community of Apsley Parish and he was involved in sports, particularly football and the St Mary's Football Club which was associated with the Church. He also refereed local matches.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war he joined the Hemel Hempstead Volunteer Force. The Vicar of Apsley, Frederick Houseman, volunteered for war service and left James, the Curate, in charge of the parish for about eighteen months. James then decided he should volunteer for war service and applied to the Bishop with the support of Rev, Houseman. He joined the Army Chaplains' Department and was gazetted as Chaplain 4th Class (equivalent to the rank of Captain), from May 1917. He was based in England in Nottinghamshire and Worksop for some months before going overseas in November 1917 and was then attached to 8th Battalion, The King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment.
He was based near the frontline with the Battalion during the Battles of the Somme, the Lys and Albert in 1918, ministering to the men and comforting the dying.
He and three others were killed by a shell on the battlefield on 22 August 1918 whilst conducting a burial service. He is buried in Bienvillers Military Cemetery, France. He was 31 years of age.
Additional Information
His widow, Mrs E M Lendrum, The Square, St Neots, Hunts, ordered his headstone inscription: “UNITED IN TIME PARTED IN TIME TO BE REUNITED WHEN TIME SHALL BE NO MORE”. She remarried in 1923 to Percy Tomson in Marylebone and lived at St Neots, Hunts.
Probate was granted to his widow on 30 November 1918 with effects of £772 1s 9d. She received pay owing of £60 4s 3d.
The pew in St Mary's Church, Apsley which commemorates him has a plaque inscribed:
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF, JAMES HERBERT REGINALD LENDRUM, CURATE OF THIS PARISH 1913-1918, KILLED IN FRANCE AUGT 22ND 1918, WHILST SERVING AS CHAPLAIN TO THE FORCES.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.greatwarliveslost.com, www.hemelatwar.org., www.kingscollections.org., www.hemelheroes.com.
