L/Cpl 29625 John George James

• Age: 26
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Friday 27th April 1917
• Commemorated at: St Sever Cem Ext Rouen
  Panel Ref: P.I.E.11A

John George was born in Liverpool on the 08th April 1891 the son of Walter Scott James and his wife Mary (nee Yoxon) who married at St Bride's Church, Liverpool on Christmas Day 1871. Walter, a police officer was originally from Cumberland whilst Mary was from Liverpool. John George was the youngest of 10 children all born in Liverpool, William Wallace born 1872 died 1877, Annie E. born 1874 died 1876, Emma born 1875 died in infancy, Walter Scott born 1876 died 1893, Emily born 1879 married in Canada, died 1922, William Wallace born 1881 died 1898, Lucy born 1884, Edith born 1886 and Robert born 1889.

The 1891 Census sees the family living at 6 Kent Street, Kirkdale where Walter is now a dock labourer.

His father, Walter, died in 1899 aged 48.

By the time of the 1901 Census the family have moved to 395 Hawthorne Road, Bootle. His mother Mary is a 51 year old widow living with five of her children; John is aged 9 and a pupil at Hawthorne Road School, his siblings are shown as; Emily aged 21 and a marmalade factory hand, Lucy aged 16 also a factory hand at a marmalade factory, Edith is 14 years old and works at a match factory, and Robert is 12 years old.

John's mother died in 1903 leaving him an orphan.

The 1911 Census shows that John was living 50 Malvern Road one of four boarders living with Jessie Burns a widow and her children. John is now 19 and a stockbrokers clerk.

Prior to enlistment he was employed by Messrs H Hargreaves & Son, Stockbrokers, Liverpool.

John enlisted in Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion as Private 29625. John had reached the rank of Lance Corporal when he died of wounds on 27th April 1917, aged 26. He is buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension at Rouen, France at Grave P.I.E.11A where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"A SILENT THOUGHT, A SECRET TEAR KEEP HIS MEMORY EVER DEAR" EDIE, LUCY, BOB"

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation.

The cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The adjoining St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. 

His home address was 38 Bowden Street, Litherland at the time of his death. Reports on his death appeared in the Bootle Times on the 11th May 1917 and in the Liverpool Echo on the 9th May 1917.

Bootle Times

Lance-corporal John G. James, K.L.R., has died from wounds in the head at a hospital in Rouen. He was a good and brave soldier. His loss is mourned by all those at 26, Woodville-terrace.

Liverpool Echo

Lance-Corpl. John G. James, K.L.R., died of wounds in hospital at Rouen on April 27th. He was 26 years of age, an "old boy" of Hawthorne-road School, Bootle, and before the war was employed by Messrs. H. Hargreaves & Son, stockbrokers, Liverpool.

Probate of his estate was obtained at Liverpool by his sister Edith Wright (the wife of Richard Henry Wright) on the 26th March 1918. His effects were valued at £80 7s 9d (£4,700 at current values.) The CWGC headstone schedule gives his next of kin as his brother Mr R G James of 25 Esmond Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester.

John is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Stock Exchange Memorial Board  (now situated in Liverpool Parish Church: Our Lady and St Nicholas).

Hawthorne Road Council School

Bootle Civic Memorial.

We currently have no further information on John George James. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.