Prescot Roll of Honour

James APPLETON

3, North Court, High Street, Prescot

Gunner/Driver 86640, Royal Field Artillery

James Appleton was born on 13th January 1894

James was a 19 year old Labourer when he attested for military service at Warrington on 25th August 1914. Next of kin was his father, William, at the same address. James was the second son of the family and in the 1911 census he is listed as a 16 year old Labourer for a Glass Bottle Blower.

He was posted to 67th Brigade on 16th November. Dvr Appleton went on leave on 23rd December and was due back on 29th, however he failed to return. A court of inquiry was held on 28th January 1915. His sergeant stated that he went to check on Dvr Appleton's kit on 30th January and found it all missing. The finding of the court was 'Driver Appleton illegally absented himself without leave at Bulford on 30th day of December 1914, that he was still absent and that he was deficient of the following items'. There followed an extensive list of his missing kit.

Although it isn't clear when James returned to his unit, his record shows that he was again Absent Without Leave from 27th February 1915 to 3rd March 1915, for which he was confined to barracks for 7 days, then again absented himself on 22nd March 1915 until apprehended at Prescot on 26th March 1915. For this offence, he forfeited 5 days pay.

On 15th June 1915, he sailed with his unit from Avonmouth to joint the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. He sailed via Alexandria and Cairo, eventually arriving in Salonika.

His mother, Alice Appleton, wrote to the army in February 1916 enquiring as to her son's whereabouts, presumably because he had not informed his family. The army replied to say that he was still serving with 67th Brigade, though they would not state where this service was taking place.

James was then found guilty of being insolent to an NCO and on 13th June 1916 he was sentenced to 20 days 'Field Punishment No 1'.

In September 1917, he was admitted to hospital in Alexandria suffering from Dysentery, remaining there for just over a month before being discharged to Mustapha. He remained in Egypt until May 1918, when he embarked for Marseilles, arriving there on 2nd May. He had a week's leave to the UK in June 1918, then on return from leave he remained in France until 5th December 1918.

James was demobilised at Oswestry on 14th January 1919. His British War Medal and Victory Medal were dispatched to him on 2nd November 1920. His 1915 Star followed soon after.

In the 1939 National Register, James was shown living at 60, Kingsway, Prescot. He was employed as an Electrical Fittings Packer.

Extract from the 1939 National register