Pauline Priano: Thiepval Memorial
Tess McTiernan have submitted the following:-
James Chorley, one of eight children, was born in 1893 at Coundon, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, to James and Anne Chorley who were both born in Lancashire. James, his father and two brothers were miners. In 1911, James aged 18 was working as a rope minder (colliery) and lived at Derwent Terrace, Annfield Plain with his parents and two sisters.
Aged 21 years 5 months, James enlisted at Durham on 10 November 1914 and was attached to the East Yorkshire Regiment at Beverley, Yorkshire. His service records show James as being of fair complexion, 5 foot 3 inches, blue eyes and golden hair.
The 7th (Service) Battalion were formed at Beverley, Yorkshire as part of Kitchener's Second New Army in the 50th Brigade of the 17th Division, then moved to Wareham , Dorset. The men were trained in trench warfare; horse riding, including driving wagons (motor transport hardly existed then); bridge building on the rivers and marching.
May 1915 the regiment departed Wareham and commenced a four day route march that would terminate at Romsey located to the north of Southampton.
On the night of 13th July 1915 James embarked at the port of Folkstone, strength, 30 officers and 937 other Ranks, disembarking at Boulogne at 3:30 a.m. on the morning of 14th July. He was engaged in various actions on the Western Front including the Battle of Albert. James was killed in action in the area around Maretz Wood. His service record shows the date of death as 8th July 1916. According to the Medal Index Cards he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Remembered with Honour
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Chorley was born in 1894 at Bishop Auckland, County Durham, one of 8 children he was the youngest of 3 sons and had 4 elder and 1 younger sister. His parents James Chorley Snr and Ann/Annie O’Neill born at Whiston and Prescot, Lancashire in 1858 and 1863 respectively were married in 1881 at Prescot. After their marriage they migrated to the north east where their daughter Mary Jane was born later that year at Collierley, County Durham, James was employed as a coal miner, however, they had returned to Prescot by 1883 where Elizabeth was born that same year, followed by Joseph 1885 and William 1886. They had returned to County Durham by 1888 settling in the village of Southchurch near Bishop Auckland and went on to have a further 4 children, Annie 1888, Ruth 1890, then James and finally Angela 1897. By 1891 they were living at Pontop Rows, Kyo, James was working as a hewer, his sons Joseph (16) and William (15) as pony drivers below ground at the colliery, Elizabeth (18) worked from home for her own account as a dressmaker, Mary Jane (20) assisted her mother to look after her younger siblings, at the age of 18 years James Jnr. had joined his father at the colliery employed as a rope winder.
James left his employment when war broke out and enlisted at Durham, November 19th 1914, assigned as Private 14862 East Yorkshire Regiment to the 7th (Service) Battalion part of Kitchener’s New Armies under the orders of the 50th Brigade, 17th Northern Division. Private Chorley embarked with his regiment landing at Boulogne in France, July 14th 1915 for service on the Western Front. Transferred to the battlefields of the Somme in spring 1916 the 7th Battalion took part in the opening offensive, during the Battle of Albert, July 1st-13th 1916. Private 14862 James Chorley East Yorkshire Regiment was killed in action July 8th 1916.
His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,337 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915-1918 who have no known grave. He was 22 years of age and single.
His sister Elizabeth married Henry Pendleton who served during WW1 with the 20th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, he too was killed in the opening Battle of the Somme and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
His mother Ann as his sole beneficiary 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 at Railway Villa, Annfield Plain, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James Chorley is remembered at Greencroft on G54.01 at Annfield Plain on A38.01 at Dipton on D46.06 and in Leadgate on L65.01
