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,
