James Delderfield

Name

James Delderfield
3 September 1885

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

26/08/1918
33

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Private
20027
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

PUCHEVILLERS BRITISH CEMETERY
III. D. 12.
France

Headstone Inscription

PEACE PERFECT PEACE WITH LOVED ONES FAR AWAY LOVING WIFE AND MOTHER.

UK & Other Memorials

Northchurch Village Memorial, St Mary’s Church Window Northchurch, Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter's Church Memorial Berkhamsted, Wigginton Village Memorial

Pre War

James Delderfield was born on 3 September 1885 in Wigginton, Herts, the son of James Delderfield (b. 1858 Tring, Herts) and Mary Ann Delderfield (nee Bridges) (b. 1856 Wigginton).


The 1891 Census records James aged 5, at school, living with his parents, sisters Jane 13, Elizabeth 11, Sarah 8 and Louisa 2, in Vicarage Road, Wigginton, Herts.  By 1901 now aged 15, James had left school and was working as a Farm Labourer, living with his parents, sisters Jane 22, Elizabeth 20, Louisa 12 Dorothy 2 months and brother Ernest 6, in Wigginton, Herts. 1911 Census records James aged 24, single and working as a Builders Carter, still living at home with his father James, brother Ernest 16 and sister Dorothy 10, in High Street, Northchurch, Herts.


No record of his mother Mary Ann Delderfield was found in the 1911 census. She died in 1921.


In September 1912, James Delderfield married Elizabeth Fantham the daughter of John and Sarah Fantham of Northchurch, Herts. Their daughter Enid E. R. was born in 1914.

Wartime Service

James enlisted in Watford, Herts, initially joining the 142nd Coy. Labour Corps with the Service No. 601505, later transferring to the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment with the Service No. 20027.


His Medal Card indicates he landed in France on 30th August 1915. (This may relate to Labour Corps service). 


James died on the 26th August 1918, aged 33 and is buried in the CWGC Puchevillers British Cemetery in France. 

Additional Information

His widow received a war gratuity of £16 and pay owing of £17 5s 0d. a pension card exists but gives no indication of the amount of pension received. 


Mrs Delderfield (mother or wife), 13, Middle Road, Berkhamsted, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription "PEACE PERFECT PEACE WITH LOVED ONES FAR AWAY LOVING WIFE AND MOTHER".

Acknowledgments

Iain Duncan, Stuart Osborne, Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk/first-world-war-database, Iain Duncan,