Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Marriott, one of 11 children of whom only 8 survived, was the 4th born of 5 sons, he had 2 elder sisters, 1 younger sister and a half-brother George Harbisher 21 years his senior. His mother Eliza Ann Harbisher nee Shipley born at Hunslet, Yorkshire was previously married to George Harbisher, July 10th 1870 at St Peter Hunslet, district of Chapley, Yorkshire, when she was 26 years of age. Her marriage to George ended and she migrated to County Durham where she married John Marriott (registered in error as Marrett) at Bishop Auckland in 1873. John Marriott was born in 1851 at Witton-le-Wear, Eliza Ann was actually 7 years older than him, born 1844, however, she declared to be 4 years his junior implying she was born in 1855. Their son John was born in 1882 at Willington, Isabelle 1884, William 1887, Hannah 1889 and Thomas 1891 at Quebec, James 1893 at Lanchester, Louisa 1898 and Robert 1901 at Quebec all in County Durham.
In 1901 living at 20, Clifford Street, Esh, Lanchester, George was employed at the colliery as a coal miner, John (19) as a putter and William (14) a pony driver. By 1911 they had moved to 33, Office Street, Cornsay Colliery, Thomas (20) and James (18) had also joined them as putters. William and his wife of under 1 year, Margaret Jane were living there with them.
James left his employment at Cornsay Colliery on the outbreak of war and enlisted at Durham, September 2nd 1914. Assigned as Private 14620 Border Regiment he joined them at their barracks in Carlisle, where he was posted to the 7th Battalion part of Kitchener’s Second New Army, attached to the 51st Brigade, 17th Northern Division. The division trained at Andover moving to Bovington in January 1915 then on to Winchester in June 1915 for final training. They landed at Boulogne, France, July 15th 1915 concentrating at La Crosse, near St. Omer for trench familiarisation before taking over the front line in the southern part of the Ypres salient in Belgium. They remained on the salient and in the spring of 1916 were involved in action near the Bluff on the Commines Canal before they were moved south to the Somme in preparation for the forthcoming attacks due to commence June 29th, delayed by bad weather until July 1st. They participated at the opening Battle of Albert July 1st-13th where the division captured Fricourt and the Battle of Delville Wood July 15th-September 3rd 1916.
In 1917 while they were involved during the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 16th, Private Marriott was appointed paid Lance Corporal May 11th 1917, he was also admitted to the 10th General Hospital in Rouen having been transferred back through the lines by the 33rd Field Ambulance via the 30th Casualty Clearing Station, July 29th 1917. He was diagnosed with inflammation of the connecting tissue in his legs and also an abdominal abscess. August 6th 1917 he was evacuated back to England aboard H.M.H.S. Western Australia and was admitted firstly to hospital in Preston before arriving at the 3rd Western General Hospital at Neath, Port Talbot, Wales, August 13th 1917. His abdominal abscess was drained and he remained in hospital until September 12th 1917.
Once fully recovered he was posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion Border Regiment which was based at Great Crosby as part of the Mersey Garrison, for retraining, October 15th 1917 and then given a period of leave. He overstayed his Ex Force Hospital leave by 22 days, 23 hours and 20 minutes, not returning to his base at Crosby until October 5th 1917 for which he was deprived of his stripes and demoted to Private. The same occurred for a second time and he returned to the 3rd Battalion after his desertion January 21st 1918. He was tried and convicted by the D.C.M. and sentenced to 56 days detention for absenting himself without leave from October 29th 1917 until January 20th 1918. Fortunately, he was not tried for desertion the maximum punishment for which, during a declared war, is death, neither did he receive the maximum term of 5 years. His sentence was commuted on condition that he depart with the first draft.
Private Marriott departed via Southampton February 2nd 1918 landing at Boulogne that same day re-joining the 7th Battalion in the field February 20th 1918. The battalion returned to the Somme when the Germans attacked again in March 1918 participating in the Battle of the Hindenburg Line and the Final Advance in Artois.
Private 14620 James Marriott Border Regiment was killed in action, October 20th 1918, his body buried on the battlefield at Neuvilly B. C. No 2, map reference 57b. E. 9. a. 4. 4.along with Private 28015 G. Jackson from his regiment and 8 from other regiments. After the Armistice and the clearing of the battlefield their remains were exhumed January 28th 1922 and brought into Selridge British Cemetery, Montay, Nord, France. Private Marriott and his comrades were re-buried with all reverence and honour by an Army chaplain. He is at rest grave II. C. 9., at the time of his demise he was 25 years old and single.
His mother Eliza Ann received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to her new address of 16, Coronation Home, Esh Winning, County Durham.
James’s father John Marriott died in 1921 aged 69 years, district of Lanchester, Eliza Ann Marriott-Harbisher nee Shipley in 1933, district of Durham, declared age 78 years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James Marriott is remembered at Cornsay on C116.01 and at Quebec on Q2.06
