Name
James William (poss J D) Merryweather(s)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/03/1917
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
11402(?)
Irish Guards
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SAILLY-SAILLISEL BRITISH CEMETERY
V. I. 6
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Town Memorial, Christchurch Plaque, now in Holy Trinity Church, Bengeo
Pre War
Born in 1894, in Georges Road, Barnsbury, London, to parents George and Emily Matilda, in 1911 they were living at 39 Port Vale, Hertford. His father was a blacksmith at a brewery, whilst James was a carman at a brewery. James also had a sister Florence who was married in St Andrews Church, Hertford in 1915.
Wartime Service
James enlisted in Hertford to 1st battalion Hertfordshire Regiment as Private 1642 and went to France on 6th November 1914. They were lightly involved in the 1st Battle of Ypres and in 1915 at Cuinchy in February, Festubert in May and The Ancre Heights in November.
James is not listed on the CWGC database as he was discharged as “no longer physically fit for service” on 11th February 1916. Having come back to England he then went to London where he re- enlisted in the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards. As Private 11402. He seems to have dropped the s from his surname to become Merryweather and obviously did not inform them he had been previously declared unfit. He was killed in action on 1st March 1917.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and £5 ( Irish Guards and Herts Reg respectively) together with arrears of £7 14s 2d paid to his mother. His will was made out with the Irish Guards on 29th January 1917 where he asked for all his property to .returned to his mother at 39 Port Vale in the event of his death. This proves that the two soldiers were one and the same although he had two separate medal cards one for each regiment. After his death the family moved away and his father died in Kent in 1920. James is not listed on the CWGC
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Terry & Glenis Collins, Marilyn Taylor
