Name
James Richard Shipton
4/11/1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Trooper
879
Household Cavalry & Cavalry of the Line (inc. Yeomanry & Imperial Camel Corps)
Household Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
Son of James and Clara (nee VICCARS) SHIPTON of Oxhey, Herts.
His parents married 1895 in the Winslow, Bucks, district. James died 15 December 1948 in Watford aged 78, and was buried 18 December in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Clara died 22 November 1952 in Watford aged 83, and was buried 26 November, also in Vicarage Road.
James Richard Shipton, born in Watford, Herts, on 4th November 1895, was the only son of James Shipton (1870 - 1948) a Farrier and Clara Shipton (1869 - 1952) (nee Viccars). He was Baptised on 8th March 1896, at St Andrews Church, Watford.
He attended first Callow Land Infants’ School, Watford; then Callowland Board School from 6 January 1902 to 3 April 1903. He resided in Bushey, Herts.
At the time of the 1901 census, when James was 5, the family was living at 3 Brixton Road, Watford and James Skipton senior was employed as a farrier and blacksmith.
By 1911 the family had moved to 274 High Street, Watford, where James Skipton senior became a publican.
Wartime Service
James enlisted at Watford, initially as Trooper 3526 2nd Life Guards and then posted to the Household Battalion of the Household Cavalry, with the service number 879 .
He served in France and Flanders from 13th August 1915, he was killed in action on 3 May 1917, aged 21. He is remembered with honour on the Arras Memorial and is commemorated on the Memorial at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 13 August 1915, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, James’ Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for James in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 25 August 1917; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 4 May 1918.
The value of his effect were £15-19s-3d, Pay Owing and £11, War Gratuity, which went to his mother Clara. Son of James and Clara Shipton, of 22, Lower Paddock Rd., Oxhey, Watford, Herts.
Additional information’ provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
