Name
James William Rainbird
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/10/1914
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10253
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 10 and 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial, All Saints' Church Memorial(s), Hockerill
Pre War
James William Rainbird was born in 1894 in Bishops Stortford to James and Elizabeth Rainbird.
The family were living at Middle Row, Bishop's Stortford on the 1901 Census and his father was a gas worker. On the 1911 Census he was living with his family at Jenkins Cottages, Great Hallingbury, Herts and James was working as a labourer.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of the Great War the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment were serving in Ireland and returned to England to join 15 Brigade, 5 Division and landed in France on 16 Aug 1914. The Battalion fought at the early battles of the original BEF (the old Comtemptibles) at Mons (23/24 Aug 1914, Le Cateau (26 Aug 1914), Marne (7-10 Sep 1914) and Aisne (12-15 Sep 1914) before being moved to Flanders for the Battle of La Bassee (10 Oct-2 Nov 1914).
James was killed in action on 13 Oct 1914 during the Battle of La Bassee. According to the war diary “There was heavy bombardment of the trenches & village all day. About midday cannonade became terrific. Practically every house damaged & neighbourhood of church continually shelled. Our front trenches, in continuation of Dorsets, unable to hold on in afternoon after Dorsets were enfiladed & withdrew. Smoke of shells & dust of falling houses made it impossible to see clearly what was going on to flanks. Enemy attacked front & flanks & Battn retired about 300 yards in rear of village & reformed on new line holding road to Pont Fixe in continuation of Dorsets. Norfolks on our left. Losses 7 officers & 140 other ranks”. James was among those casualties, His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial.
Additional Information
His mother received a War Gratuity of £5 and his father received his pay owing of £4 11s 2d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
