Name
James Brown
26/10/1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/11/1914
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3/6100
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, 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
Not on the Lilley memorials, Not on the Kings Walden memorials
Pre War
James Brown was born on 26 October 1888 in Lilley Bottom, King’s Walden, Herts, the son of George and Elizabeth Brown and was baptised on 11 May 1890 at King's Walden. In 1891 the family were living at Lilley Bottom, King's Walden. His father was working as a farm labourer and his mother as a straw plaiter. George was then the youngest of seven children.
In 1911 James was living with his parents at 3 Chase Street, Luton, Beds. Three of his siblings were also living at home. His occupation was listed as a foundry moulder and he worked at the Diamond Foundry.
He married Minnie Jane Fensome on 27 January 1912 but she died in late 1913 at the age of 25 without having any children.
His parents later lived at 65 Albert Road, Luton, Beds
Wartime Service
James was serving in the Territorials at the outbreak of war. He was mobilised and served in France from 11 September 1914, having enlisted in Luton.
He was posted missing, believed killed in action, on 4 November 1914, the first day of the 1st Battle of Ypres, but it was not until about 18 months later that his parents received information from the War Office that their son was considered to have died on 5 November 1914.
His name is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His brother George also served with the Bedfordshire Regiment, in B’ Coy of the 2nd Battalion. He was killed on in action on 7 October 1915.
Vida Abbott (later Swannick) received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £32 11s 10d. (She lived in Markyate south of Luton, Beds).
His mother received a pension of 10 shillings a week in respect of James and his brother George.
Acknowledgments
Jo Bayley, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, worldwar1luton.com
