Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: P. Priano
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Cooney McAndrews, known as James was the eldest of 3 sons born to James McAndrews Snr of Gateshead and widow Mary Ann Allen whom he married in 1894 at West Hartlepool, County Durham where James Jnr was born in 1895, Robert Sydney 1897 and Albert Leo, July 27th 1899. In 1901 Mary Ann, listed as the head of the household and all her children were living at 7, Park Street. John William Allen (19) was serving his apprenticeship as a riveter, his brother Robert Edward (15) as a riveter’s helper, living with them was her father-in-law James McAndrews, born in Ireland, employed by the Gas & Water Company. The next record of the McAndrews children lists them in 1911 living in 2 rooms at Felling, Gateshead, having been adopted by James and Martha Topping, who originated from Wigan, Lancashire, and had a son and daughter of their own. James McAndrews (15) was employed at the colliery as a pit shaft trimmer, Robert Sydney (14) a pit top worker, Albert Leo (12) was a scholar.
In 1914 James McAndrews Snr was living at the Jubilee Lodging House, Blyth, Northumberland employed as a riveter's labourer. September 11th 1914 he attempted to enlist in the Army at Blyth, declaring to have served 7 days in prison, gave the name and address of his brother Patrick as next of kin and listing by name his children but made no mention of Mary Ann. He was assigned as Private 11691 to the 8th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, part of Kitchener’s New Army but discharged on medical grounds, October 27th 1914, “not likely to become an efficient soldier.”
James Cooney McAndrews was one of the first to enlist at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham assigned as Private 1912 Durham Light Infantry and posted to the 7th Battalion of the Territorial Force, once mobilised he was sent with his regiment to the coastal defences. The men were split into two groups, those of the 1st line were designated for service overseas, the 2nd line for home service. The first draft of men departed from Newcastle railway station, April 17th 1915, bound for France, having been posted to the 1st/7th Battalion Private McAndrews, with a change of service number 275218, joined his regiment in the field. Within days the battalion had made its way to Belgium where without any nursery training the men entered the front line during the 2nd Battle of Ypres, suffering many casualties from shell and gas attacks. November 15th 1915 they joined the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumberland Division and began training as a Pioneer Battalion tasked with digging and repairing trenches and dugouts as well as moving supplies and burying the dead, when necessary they fought as infantrymen. Moved from Belgium to the battlefields of the Somme, they entered the fighting at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd, Morval September 25th-28th and Le Transloy October 1st-18th. In the spring of 1917 they moved to the Arras sector participating during the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917 at the 1st Battle of the Scarpe, Wancourt Ridge and the 2nd Battle of the Scarpe before returning north to Belgium. In the trenches of the Ypres salient they fought during the 3rd Battle of Ypres, July 31st-November 10th 1917 then spending another winter battling in the mud until returning to the Somme in March 1918.
Having risen through the ranks, the now Lance Corporal 275218 James McAndrews Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, January 20th 1918 and interred at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, grave III. C. 1. He was 22 years of age and single.
His aunt Miss Georgina Wilson of 108, Westbourne Avenue, Gateshead, County Durham nominated as his sole legitimate beneficiary received all monies due to him and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. She commissioned at a cost of 5 shillings 10 pence an additional inscription to be added to his military headstone, it reads, “Into Thy Hands Oh Lord.”
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James Cooney McAndrews is remembered at Gateshead in G39.004 and at Seaburn on S142.06
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 10
