Private James Victor Vincent
| Date of Birth | c.1883 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 33 |
| Date of Death | 1 October 1916 |
| Service Number | 2209 |
| Military Service | 8th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment |
| Merton Address | |
| Local Memorial | St. Lawrence Church, Morden |
Additional Information
James Victor Vincent was born in South Norwood in Surrey c1883 to James and Ellen Vincent. His father was a bricklayer’s labourer. By 1901 he was still living in at home in South Norwood and, now 18, was working as a greengrocer’s porter. He was one of nine children. He married Maud Louise Stuart in Croydon in 1902. They had a daughter, Doris Dorothy Maud Vincent, who was baptised at Christ Church, Mitcham on 27 July 1913.
James was working as a carman when he enlisted in the East Surrey Regiment in New Malden on 9 September 1914. He was then 30 years and 10 months old. He was a private in the 8th Battalion, which was formed as part of the Second New Army at Kingston-on-Thames in August, 1914. His regimental number was 2209. His battalion was mobilised for war on 28 July 1915. It fought a number of battles on the western front including the Battle of Thiepval which was the first large offensive of the Reserve Army during the Battle of the Somme. This battle took place on 26-28 September, 1916, just two days before James’s death from wounds on 1 October 1916.
Private Vincent is buried at the Varennes Military Cemetery in France. I.B.27. He is remembered on his gravestone by his parents, James and Ellen, and his wife Maud with the words ‘Far away from those he loved best deep in our hearts his memory rest’. He is also commemorated at St. Lawrence’s Church, Morden, where his name appears on one of the panels in the Lychgate which serves as the parish war memorial.
Maud was living at 16 Garth Road, North Cheam, Sutton, Surrey at the time of his death.