Private James West
| Date of Birth | 2 May1889 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 26 |
| Date of Death | 16 June 1915 |
| Service Number | 10180 |
| Military Service | 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment |
| Merton Address | Ideal, Cavendish Road, Colliers Wood |
| Local Memorial | Christ Church, Colliers Wood |
Additional Information
James was born in Wimbledon on 2 May 1889, and was baptised the following month on 9 June in Merton. His mother was named Mary, and his father, Jacob was employed as a Wheelwright, a craftsman who builds or repairs wooden wheels. When James was 1 year old, his family were living at 8 Trafalgar Place in Merton. James was the youngest of 5 children, including 16 year old Mary who was training to be a teacher, Ellen aged 14, Albert aged 11 and Jacob aged 9.
By 1901 the family had moved to 170 Effra Road, South Wimbledon. Mary was now qualified as a Teacher, Albert was a Copperplate Engraver, Jacob was apprenticed as a Wheelwright like his father and Ellen had left home. James was still at school.
In 1910, James married Maud Elizabeth Georgina Bessell . A year later, records show that the couple were living at 3 Byegrove Road, Colliers Wood with their one year old son, Thomas James. James was employed as a Scalemaker.
During the Great War, James enlisted at Wimbledon with the 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment. The regiment saw action at various battles in France and Belgium, and in June 1915 were stationed near Hooge in Belgium. On 16 June the 1st Battalion took part in the First Attack on Bellewaard. The five page entry from the Battalion’s War Diary for that day describes the action, and an extract from the diary records:
“11a.m. We evacuated the eastern portion of the German trench. We retired in the open and lost a considerable number of men in doing so. A counter charge was organised about this time to check the enemy's advance, but without success, as the officer and many men were shot down and the remainder made no progress. 3p.m. Germans commenced a heavy bombardment of Ypres Wood and the trenches which had been captured in the morning. Our guns replied by shelling the German's about BELLEWARDE Lake, presumably to break up any attempt at counter attack. The situation remained unchanged in our trenches. 6.30p.m. Germans started a very heavy bombardment of Ypres Wood which lasted about 1 hour….”
James unfortunately, was one of the men who were reported missing - presumed killed. James has no known grave so is commemorated at Ypres on the Menin Gate Memorial. He was also commemorated locally at Christ Church, Colliers Wood.
His widow Maud received James’s War Gratuity of £3.00, while living at Cavendish Road, Colliers Wood.