Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Richard James was the youngest of 2 siblings and the only son of George James and Mary Elizabeth Patterson, both born in 1857 in the district of West Hartlepool, County Durham and at Bishopton, Renfrewshire, Scotland, respectively. Having married during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1880, their daughter Jane was born that same year and baptised at Stockton-on-Tees, November 28th. In 1881 they were living at 6, Pearson Street, Stockton, also in the household is listed Mary Elizabeth’s sister Eliza (19) as a visitor and her brother William (21), a lodger who was employed as a labourer whilst her husband George was a drayman. Mary Elizabeth gave birth to Richard during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1883 and died either during childbirth or soon after during the same quarter, aged only 25 years. Wether George James died soon after is unknown, however in any event Jane lived with her grandparents, Abraham and Jane James, at Sowerby under Cotcliffe, Yorkshire, into her 20s, George, at the age of 10 was an inmate at Union Workhouse, Portrack Lane, Stockton, however aged 18 years, was living with his mother’s eldest sister Eliza, married April 26th 1886 at Holy Trinity, Stockton, to Mark Brittain, as the couple were childless and living at 8, Croft Street in 1901. His uncle Mark was a grocer’s cartman and Richard an apprentice grocer.
Richard was married, February 25th 1907 in the district of Stockton to Mary Lizzie Ayre born 1886 at Thornaby, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, their only son Harold was born April 26th 1907. He supported his family employed as a grocer’s shop assistant, in 1911 they were living in 4 rooms at 14, Burgess Street.
Richard did not enlist immediately war was declared with Germany in 1914, it was not until November 10th 1916 that he was assessed and assigned as Private 39344 to the 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment where he rose to the rank of Lance Corporal December 6th 1916 before being transferred, February 14th 1917 to the Machine Gun Corps and reverting to Private 85856 at his own request. Mobilised he joined the British Expeditionary Force at Folkestone, April 20th 1917 and departed to France, disembarking at Boulogne, making his way to the base depot at Camiens. Within days he was examined by the Medical Board, sent back through the lines to Etaples by May 1st where he received dental treatment not rejoining his unit at Camiens until May 15th 1917. June 14th 1917 he left the base depot posted to the 195th Coy, M.G.C in the field, arriving the following day. The 195th was attached to the 25th Division which at the time was in the Messines area in Belgium from where it was withdrawn on the night of 22-23rd June 1917 for a period of rest at Bomy, near St. Omer, before moving to Ypres between July 7th and 8th in preparation for the next big offensive.
The opening battle of the Third Battle of Ypres took place, July 31st 1917, where the 25th Division was in reserve. Private 85856 Richard James Machine Gun Corps was killed in action, August 11th 1917. After the conclusion of WW1 at the request of the French and Belgian Governments the clearing of the battlefields began, isolated graves and small concentrations were brought into larger cemeteries. March 5th 1920 at map reference J2B. 35. 70 were found the remains of a British soldiers in an unmarked grave, the cross having been destroyed by subsequent action in the area. By means of a disc they were formally identified as Private Richard James.
Private 85856 Richard James Machine Gun Corps was brought into “The Buttes” New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, for re-burial with all honour and reverence by an Army Chaplain. He is at rest grave XXIX. D. 9, at the time of his demise in 1917 he was 34 years of age.
His widow received all monies due to him from the Army, a pension of 18 shillings 9 pence a week as of March 4th 1918 for herself and their child, his awards of the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the disc found on his body, sent to her at 24, Leeds Street, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham. Mary Lizzie commissioned at a personal cost of 10 shillings 6 pence an additional inscription to be added to her husband's military headstone, it reads, “Deeply Mourned By His Wife Mary & Son Harold.”
Mary did not remarry, Harold James married Phyllis Amy Johnson in 1934 and died January 3rd 1947, aged 39 years, leaving effects of 495 pounds and 2 shilling to his widow of 36, Woodland Street, Stockton-on-Tees. Mary Lizzie James nee Ayre lived out her days at Leeds Street and died March 24th 1956 at Protract Hospital, Stockton, declared incorrectly as aged 73 years, leaving effects in the sum of 934 pounds 19 shillings 11 pence to Gladys May Taylor, (wife of Thomas William Taylor). Relationship to the deceased, unknown.
In Gods safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Richard James is remembered at Stockton on S138.12 and S138.18 page 30
