Northumberland Fusiliers Badge
Derek Johnstone and Carole Fife have provided the following:
James Wonnacott was born at Holdsworthy, Devon/Cornwall about 1881. His parents were Frederick and Elizabeth Wonnacott who were both born in Devon. James’s father worked in an arsenic mine in 1891 and in 1901 he was a labourer in a stone quarry.
In 1891, the Wonnacott family lived at North Petherwin, Cornwall when James, who had four brothers, was 8 years old.
By 1901 his family lived at Calstock, Cornwall where James aged 18 was working in a stone quarry. In the household at this time were siblings Sidney 16, William 14, Francis 13, Thomas 8 and Gladys aged 4.
Records indicate James married Beatrice Annie Dawe who was born in Ballington, Cornwall. The marriage was registered in Tavistock, Devon when James would have been about aged 23.
The 1911 Census shows a move from Cornwall to Northumberland has taken place and James and his family, which includes sons, Cyril 6 and Arthur aged 4, both born in Bedlington, are living at Dowson’s Buildings, Bedlington.
James enlisted at Bedlington and was originally in the Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Scottish) 21st Battalion and then transferred to the 8th Battalion but he kept his original number.
On his death his effects went to his widow Beatrice.
His name does not appear on a local memorial.
