South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave of Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France and Flanders | 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Flatiron Copse Cemetery |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| after 1 Jan 1916 | ~ | Shottery War Memorial |
| Stratford on Avon WW1 Memorial | ||
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted Date | Stratford Holy Trinity Church |
| Battle of Albert (Somme) | May 1915 at Bargoed | Stratford Cemetery Memorial |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | Other War Memorials |
| near Mametz Wood, Somme | ~ | ~ |
Other Information
aka James Healey in some military records.
Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)
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James is listed as being killed in action on 7th July 1916. The 16th Battalion war diary entries for the period 6th to 8th July 1916 are transcribed below. Carnoy - 6.7.1916: Inspection of arms and equipment. Letter read from Gen. Sir Ivor Phillips to units of 38th Division. In evening Battalion proceeded via Carnoy. Triangle, Loop, Loop Trench, Montauban Alley & Caterpillar Trench to valley N of Caterpillar Wood. Between them & Mametz Wood there was a slope which hid them from enemy’s view. Caterpillar Wood – 7.7.1916: 8.30am Battalion under orders, drawn up on their side of slope facing Mametz Wood in lines of platoons with a 2 platoon frontage. 11/SWB in support. 10/SWB in reserve. Our artillery ceased firing at Wood as 8.30am & first lines of Bn proceeded over the crest of the slope but came instantly under heavy machine gun fire from Mametz Wood & enfilade fire from Flatiron Copse & Sabot Copse & the German second system which ran between Mametz Wood and Bazentin le Petit Wood. Bn suffered heavily & had to withdraw to their own side of crest. Battalion made two more attacks but position was much too exposed for any hope of success and orders were received to cease operations. 11/SWB attempted to approach the wood through a gulley running between Caterpillar Wood & slope mentioned about but Machine Gun Fire drove them back. Our losses 6 Officers killed and 6 wounded; 268 OR’s killed, missing and wounded. Weather very wet, this adding greatly to exhaustion of troops. Bn received orders to return their Bivouac. Moved off at 10.30pm, arrived 4am 8th. Carnoy – 8.7.1916: Roll call at noon. Verbal appreciation on behaviour of troops from Brig Gen Evans communicated to Battn. 
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| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Bapitsm Date/Place |
|---|---|
| Jul Qtr 1877 at Stratford on Avon | 23 Sep 1877 at Stratford on Avon |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| James and Eleanor Keeley | Stratford on Avon |
| Mother of Child | Children & Year of Birth |
| Lydia Washbourne b 1887 in Haselor | Florence Keeley Washbourn b Jan Qtr 1907 |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1877 - 2 Hathaway Court, Stratford-on-Avon | 1881 - School age |
| 1881 - 2 Hathaway Court, Shottery | 1891 - Agricultural labourer |
| 1891 - The Barracks, Shottery | 1901 - Not found |
| 1901 - Not found | 1911 - Not found |
| 1910 - 10 Barracks, Shottery (Voter Roll) | |
| 1915 - 8 The Barracks, Shottery |
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We have been unable to find James in the 1901 and 1911 census records, although we found him in the 1910 & 1915 Voters Roll. The following newspaper reports might shine some light on the issues he was facing at that time:
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