WW1 Casualty: Private 2141 Richard Walter James - Private 2141 Richard Walter James
| Unit/Regiment |
1st/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment |
| Date of Death |
02/08/1916 |
Age at Death |
33 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Dive Copse British Cemetery
II D 31 |
| Census Details |
1901 Census -
Richard was living with his parents Richard (51, a labourer) and Annie (50), at 25, William Street, Prescot. He had 2 brothers, Thomas (20), and Isaac (12), and a sister Caroline (8).
1911 - By this time, 27 years old 'Coal Miner - Hewer' Richard W was living at 4 Edward Street, St Helens with parents Richard (62), Annie (60) and three siblings: Thomas Lincoln (25), Caroline (18), Maggie Cusworth (12).
|
| Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations |
Birth Registered Q2/1883, Prescot, 8b, 782 |
| SDGW - Where Born |
Prescot, Lancs |
| Enlisted |
St Helens, Lancs |
| How Died |
Died of Wounds |
Theatre of War |
France & Flanders |
| Research Ref. No. |
P165 |
Service DetailsRichard Walter James was born in Prescot on 15th April 1883, the son of Richard and Annie James. In the summer of 1911, he married Mary Agnes Manchester at St Thomas Church, Eccleston.
He was a pre-war Territorial, though wasn't serving when war broke out. However he quickly enlisted in his old unit in August 1914.
The 5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, had just started its annual training in camp when war broke out in August 1914. It was sent to Edinburgh until October, then moved to Tunbridge Wells until February 1915. It was then ordered to France, sailing on the 13th aboard s.s. King Edward., arriving at Le Havre the same day. Pte James was with the unit when they landed in France.
Throughout May of 1915, the battalion was involved in heavy engagements with the Germans in the Ypres Salient. After 25th May, there were no more serious offensive actions from either side as all parties were exhausted. The battalion were billeted at Forceville in mid-Jul to early August, when it moved to trenches in the Auchonvillers section. They remained there, with rest billets at Maillly-Maillet, until 29th October when they retired to Bertencourt for training and work party assignment. The casualties suffered in this period were a result of the intermittent artillery and mortar fire, as well as constant sniping.
This period of relative inactivity continued through the Spring of 1916.
The Regimental history does not record details of any significant actions around the time of Private James' death. Although the Battle of the Somme had commenced on 1st July, the battalion, part of 55th Division, was only engaged with active patrolling and sniping. On 22nd July, they received orders to move south and on the 25th, they arrived at billets inn Ville-sous-Corbie, where they remained until 8th August.
The Battalion War Diary for the date of Pte. James' death is reproduced below.
August 1
Moved forward from MANSEL COPSE F16b F17a to reserve trenches at OXFORD COPSE A14 A15 (Sheet 62c NW 1/20000)
August 2 8am
Valley shelled by 8' Howitzers for 15 minutes and again at 2pm. Casualties 15 Killed 17 Wounded.
Private James rests in Dive Copse British Cemetery. The area just north of the cemetery was chosen prior to the Battle of the Somme for a concentration of Field Ambulances, and it seems likely that Private James died at one of those. The fact that he died at a Field Ambulance suggests that his death came within a short time of being wounded.
Pte James's headstone at Dive Copse. Picture courtesy of St Helens Rolls of Honour
Private James' Medal Index Card listing his entitlement to the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal
The Register of Soldiers Effects, shown below, records his widow Margaret as next of kin
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