William James

Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-

William was born in Spennymoor on 16th October 1884 to Joseph and Mary Eliza (nee Holyoak) James, but by the time of the 1891 census the family consisting of William (6), John (4) and Dora (2 months) were living in 3 rooms at 32 Chilton Street, Monkwearmouth. 10 years later they had been joined by Joseph, Henry, Clara and Mary Edith and were living at 8 Douglas Terrace, Southwick and William was working as a pony driver at the local pit. On 2nd June 1906 William married Mary Thirlwell in St. Columba’s Church, Southwick.

November 1913 saw William, Mary and their 6 month old daughter Mary also called Mary arriving in Nova Scotia on board the SS Canada. William was going to Edmonton, Alberta as an engineer, following his younger brother Joseph who had been travelled to Canada the previous year.

William enlisted as Private 101271 in the 66th Battalion in Edmonton on 18th September 1915 giving as his next of kin his wife Mary living at 11612 82nd Street. Under descriptive marks on his joining papers are several tattoos, a heart and hands, butterfly and Buffalo Bill on his right arm, and an Indian head, Highlander and an eagle on his left. He ended up in France as a member of 31st Battalion (Alberta Regiment) where he fought at the Somme alongside his younger brother Joseph. On 15th September 1916 he took part with the Battalion in an attack at Courcelette, the final general offensive mounted during the Battle of the Somme, and was reported as having died from enemy bullet wounds received after leaving the trenches whilst participating in the attack on the Sugar Factory in Courcelette. William and his brother Joseph died on the same day.

His name does not appear on any local war memorial.

In Canada he is remembered on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance

Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual Memorial
The CWGC entry for Private James