Military History

James is listed as being killed in action on 21st August 1917 during the attack on Hill 70 in Ypres. The 47th Battalion war diary entries for the period 20th to 22nd August 1917 are transcribed below.

Cite-de-Garennes - 20 Aug 1917: Weather fine. Artillery activity was normal on both sides. Our heavies shelled the Green Crassier from 10.00am to 8.00pm. A patrol ascertained that the enemy held crater strongly on Lens-Arras Road N20.C 05:25.

Cite-de-Garennes - 21 Aug 1917: Weather fine. Artillery activity above normal, enemy shelling our forward positions, our guns concentrating on Green Crassier.

Cite-de-Garennes - 22 Aug 1917: Weather fine. At 4.10 A.M. enemy placed light barrage on our front line for 20 minutes. At 4.35 A.M. we attacked under a satisfactory barrage, advancing about 400 yards and taking all objectives with exception of strong point on LENS–ARRAS ROAD N20c 10.40 northward to N20c 20.75. Major D.R. Clarkson led “A” Coy. and one platoon of “D” Coy. Captain D.B. Weldon.

The fighting was of a house-to-house character throughout. “B” Coy. and one platoon of “C” Coy. In the initial attack we took 40 prisoners, one machine gun, and destroyed one with an ammonal charge. The enemy’s artillery retaliation was severe throughout day. At 5.30 P.M. under a stokes gun barrage two parties under Capt. C.E. Bailey, M.C. and Capt. D.B. Weldon advanced from north and south and gained the strong point on the LENS–ARRAS ROAD. Lieut. Colgate who was wounded and captured while mopping up a trench in the morning, escaped and assisted in the attack. Lieut. Raley captured one machine gun and 16 men.

The fighting was most severe, being of a hand-to-hand nature, and 109 of the enemy were accounted for, including 7 unwounded prisoners; the situation made it unwise to take many prisoners. One machine gun was destroyed. Our position was consolidated by digging a trench from N19b.05.55 where we connected up with the 9th Bn. to N20a.10.20, thence in an easterly direction to N20a.25.00 on ARRAS ROAD; S.W. along road to N20c.10.50, securing a block in ALPACA TRENCH at N.20. c.25.89 with several posts in the front line. We also mopped up Fosse 4 (St. Louis) placing a post in the western end. A company of 44th Bn came up in support but but did not take part in the attack. The right wa marked by much artillery activity on both sides, also machine gun fire.

Lt. Col Francis atds from Field Ambulance, Major Mills retains command.