Name
James Akers
9 Oct 1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/02/1916
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7656
Royal Fusiliers *1
1st (City of London) Bn,
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POPERINGHE NEW MILITARY CEMETERY
I G 24
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Heath Village Memorial, Holy Trinity Church Memorial, Little Amwell
Pre War
James was born on 10 Sep 1881 (baptised 9 Oct 1881) in Little Amwell, Hertford Heath to Henry Akers, a publican and an Iron & Brass founder, and Matilda (nee Stark).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, William, James, Flora, Henry and Robert were living at the Horse and Dray, Little Amwell. The 1901 Census had the family living at the Street, Little Amwell but William and James were absent from the record but there had been the addition of John (born 1892) and Charles (born 1897). The family were still at this address in 1911.
James married Elizabeth Threader in Jan 1906 in Little Amwell, they were living at Gray Cottages on the 1911 Census with children Lizzie (born 1906), James (born 1907), Matilda May (born 1910). There would be a further daughter Dorothy Maud (born 1911).
Wartime Service
No Service records could be found for James but he enlisted as Private L/7656 in the Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment. His service number is of a series that was issued prior to the Great War and could explain his absence from Census Records.
He was posted to 1st Battalion and went with them to France on 7 Sep 1914. The 1st Battalion were in position in Ypres area at Hooge when James died on 16 Feb 1916.
Additional Information
*1 London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
War Gratuity of £8 10s and arrears of 10s £d was paid to his widow.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Neil Cooper
