Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: P. Priano
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Hedley/Hadley Mowbray, known as James, one of 4 children, was the 2nd born of 3 sons and had an elder sister. His parents George Mowbray and Phillis Hedley/Hadley were born at Chester-le-Street, County Durham in 1836 and 1854 respectively, however, they were married at Alnwick, Northumberland, May 23rd 1875. Until he married George had been a soldier but now supported his wife employed as a labourer. Their son John George was born in 1876 in the district of Sunderland, County Durham, Mary Ellen at Bedlington in 1877 and James Hedley/Hadley in 1880 at Elswick, Newcastle-upon- Tyne, both in the county of Northumberland, where they were living at 8, Durham Street by 1891. The family transferred to Gateshead a few years later and it was here during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1883 that John George died age 6 years, within a year Phillis had given birth to another child, Robert, 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1884, unfortunately Phillis Mowbray nee Hedley/Hadley died aged 32 years in 1886. George remarried to Ann O’Connor, the daughter of immigrants, born 1850 in Ireland. In 1891 George worked as a chemical labourer and the family was living at 72, Railway Street, Gateshead. George Mowbray died aged 57 years in 1893, possibly as a consequence of his employment in the chemical industry.
Ann continued to care for her step-children with the exception of James who joined the Durham Light Infantry at Gateshead, March 26th 1902, declaring he had already served with the 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry Militia as well as continuing his employment as a labourer. He joined his regiment at Newcastle, March 29th, where he was examined, found to be fit and as Private 7832, at his own request, was assigned to “D” Section Mounted Infantry. Between 1904 and 1910 he re-engaged year on year serving with the Mounted Infantry at Bangalore, India, until time expired he was transferred to the Army Reserve in England March 26th 1910. May 12th 1911 until March 26th 1914 he was with the Training Reserve at Whitley Bay and South Shields. Having re-engaged March 26th 1914, for a period of 4 years, when war with Germany was declared August 4th 1914 he was mobilised at Newcastle-upon-Tyne the following day, given his past experience he departed with the British Expeditionary Force to France, sailing from Southampton, September 24th 1914, posted to the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, the first Regular battalion of the D.L.I. to see action during WW1. At Troyon on the River Aisne they were also the first of the D.L.I. to sustain casualties, 41 men dead and 300 wounded or missing. Private Mowbray took a gunshot wound to the leg during November 1914 in France and was repatriated, December 10th 1914 for treatment. Once recovered and retrained Private Mowbray was again drafted to France, June 23rd 1915, joining his regiment now in Belgium on the salient. During the Battle of Hooge, which raged August 5th-8th 1915, James died of wounds sustained and was buried by his comrades on the battlefield. After the Armistice the French and Belgian Governments requested that isolated graves and concentrations be brought into larger cemeteries. The remains found at map reference I. 18. d. 9. 0. without a marker cross were exhumed and identified, by means of a disc, to be that of Private 7832 James Mowbray Durham Light Infantry and brought into Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium for reburial with all honour and reverence by an Army chaplain, September 9th 1921. Private 7832 James Mowbray Durham Light Infantry is at rest grave XI. E. 37, at the time of his demise in 1915 he was 35 years of age and single.
After news of his demise had been sent to his next of kin his step-mother Ann wrote a letter, dated October 21st 1915, to the Army, it contains errors as to the circumstances of his upbringing and death, it reads as follows, “Sir, Ref. Pte James Mowbray No 7832 H Company 3rd Batt 2nd Durham L. I. who was killed at Hooge Aug 17th 1915 as his step-mother who brought him up from infancy I would like to know if his effects have been disposed of and to whom. I am convinced he would have wished me to have at least part of what was due to him. An early reply will oblige, Yours Respect’y, Ann Mowbray.”
James had not made a will and in these circumstances any money owed to him was to go to his surviving blood relatives. His brother Robert Mowbray of 47, Old Street, Gateshead, County Durham, received a sum total of 3 pounds 17 shillings 7 pence, his personal items of a photo, letter, pipe, comb, mirror, the disc found on his remains and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The whereabouts of his sister Mrs. Mary Ellen Riddell nee Mowbray who had previously resided at 93, Devonshire Terrace, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, were unknown, therefore, the same sum of money was retained by the Army until such time she could be traced.
Although Robert Mowbray would have been eligible to serve during WW1 no details have been found.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James Hedley/Hadley Mowbray is remembered at Gateshead in G39.004
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 204
