Military History

James is listed as being killed in action on 25 Oct 1914 and he is remember on the Menin Gate Memorial. The Battalion war diary entries for the 24th to the 26th October are transcribed below. We think the war diary shows that it is likely that James was actually killed on the 24th October or in early hours of 25th.

24th October 1914 - Trenches near Zonnebeek: March out at 6.30am. Receive orders to clear a wood of the enemy. In passing through the wood came under heavy shell fire. The enemy retired obstinately leaving many killed and wounded in their wake. A large body of Germans were occupying a farm house in the rear of the wood. The Regiment received orders to take the farm and in doing so came under a fierce rifle and machine gun fire.

The casualties this day are numerous, Lt Col Loring previously wounded was killed. Some prisoners were taken & a large quantity of ammunition was captured but the enemy retained possession of their Machine Gun. Bivouacced at/in wood at Menin-Beccelare Road.

25th October 1914 - Wood at Menin-Beccelare Road: Regiment in reserve in wood. Stayed there the whole day. Gen Sir Henry Rawlinson told the Regiment that they had saved the line on the previous day.

26th October 1914 - Wood at Menin-Beccelare Road: Stand to Arms 4.0 am and advance along the Menin - Beccalarre Road and occupied trenches about two miles down. Vacated trenches at 1.0pm and advanced in the direction of [empty space]. An English aeroplane was brought down by our own gunners and immediately came under heavy shell fire. Retired about half a mile but immediately advance again in the direction of [empty space] where Bn entrenched in the open. Retired to S Klein Zillebeke where Bn bivouaced for the night. END