Name
James Messider
1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/09/1918
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
154324
Royal Garrison Artillery
434th Siege Bty.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FINS NEW BRITISH CEMETERY, SOREL-LE-GRAND
V. E. 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Report
UK & Other Memorials
St. John the Baptist Church Memorial, Aldbury, Aldbury Peace Memorial Institute Memorial, Aldbury, Not on the Tring memorials
Pre War
James Messider was born in 1885 in Aldbury (baptised 3 May 1885) to Peter Messider, plate layer, and Mary (nee Delderfield) in Aldbury and baptised on 3rd May 1885.
The 1891 census records James aged 6 living at Hitchin Police Station on the Bancroft where his father was a Police Constable, with his mother, Harry (born 1881), Ada M (born 1882), Lily (born 1884), Edward I (born 1888) and Elizabeth (born 1891).
In 1901 he was working as a Footman at Epping House, Little Berkhamsted. His parents with Edward ( print hand), Elizabeth, Jess W (born 1892) and Ethel E (born 1896) were living at Village east Side, Sandridge, St Albans.
On the 1911 Census, aged 28 as a Footman at St Leonards, Windsor. His parents were living in Police Cottage, Sandridge, St Albans with daughter Ethel ( a music puncher).
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for James who enlisted in Darlington, Durham as Gunner 154324 in the Royal Garrison Artillery, probably in late 1916/early 1917 Following his training he was posted to 434 Siege Battery which went to France on 5 Sep 1917 and were posted to the following Heavy Artillery Groups : 90 HAG 10 Sep 17, 2 HAG 21 Sep 17, 772 HAG 15 Dec 17, 25 HAG 22 Dec 17 before being used as Army Troops from 15 Apr 18.
James was killed in action on 29 Sep 1918 (possibly from German counter battery fire) during the advances of the Hundred Days when the German Army was generally in retreat.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £6 and arrears of £11 5s 2d was paid to his father Peter, who also received probate of £237 9s 4d.
James is also commemorated on the family headstone in Albury (St. John the Baptist) Churchyard, his inscription reads:
"ALSO OF JAMES THE BELOVED SON OF THE ABOVE (Peter Messider)
WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION SEPT 29TH 1918. AGED 33 YEARS"
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Neil Cooper
Graham Juniper, Caroline Ellwood, Chris Dove, Mark Morgan
