Medal Index Card
They had seven children, Sarah Miller Conroy, born 19th December 1880, baptised on the 30th January 1881 at St Cuthbert's RC Church in Amble.* Elizabeth was born on the 23rd July 1882, baptised at the RC Church at Willington on the 3rd September, was a servant in Chirton Hill Farm at Bully Mill, in 1901, [married George Watson]. Jacob Conroy, his younger brother, was born in Hamilton, Scotland on the 13th July 1887, Thomas Michael Conroy, was born on the 20th February 1889, and was baptised on the 24th April 1889 at St Cuthbert's RC Church at North Shields and William, born on the 13th November 1890, baptised on the 18th January 1891 at St Cuthbert's RC Church at North Shields, Northumberland, [in 1939 William Conroy is now living in Walton and Weighbridge in Surrey with his wife Mary A and son James who is recorded as 'capstan operator aircraft'], Joseph was born on the 18th May 1892 and was baptised on the 27th July 1892 at St Cuthbert's RC Church North Shields, also a Jane Anderson Conroy who was born on the 11th February 1896, christened at St Cuthbert RC Church, North Shields, on the 26th February 1896. However she passed away at 8 weeks, and was buried at Preston Cemetery on the 1st April 1896 in unconsecrated ground no 2145
* In 1881 Sarah Conroy was 4 months old living with her parents. In 1891 Sarah is now residing with her Grandparents (her Mother Isabella's parents - Jacob and Jane Miller), at Murton. Sarah went on to marry a Joseph Johnstone. On the 1911 census with their children Isabella, Elsie May and Gladys - all living at Coronation Terrace in New York.
James's father and his brother Jacob were all Hewer's in the Collieries. At some stage between 1887 and 1889 the family were at Hamilton in Scotland.
Shields Daily News Monday, 23/10/1899. 'The Fireworks Nuisance' Charles Heslop (9) and Mark Morris (10), Hill Heads, were summoned for setting off fireworks on the highway at Whitley on the 14th inst. - Evidence having been given, the Bench discharged the boys with a caution.-James Conroy (15) miner, New York, was summoned for a similar offence, committed at New York, on the 14th inst. - Defendant who was represented by his mother, was fined 6d and 4s and 6d costs or 3 days.
By 1901 Elizabeth is no longer residing at New York as she no longer appears on the 1901 census at New York.
By 1911, Jacob's mother has died and his father age 52, is now a boarder at 13 Mafeking Terrace at New York with Tomas Michael Conroy age 22, and a William Conroy aged 20., who also are Boarders. They are residing with the Watson family with their 4 children, Mary Isabella, born 1904, John Thomas, born 1906, Winifred, born 1908, and Agnes born March 1910 at Percy Main.
Jacob Conroy in 1911 was residing at 75 Waverley Street, Ballingry, Fife, Scotland (Boarder).
James Conroy was a miner before he enlisted into the Durham Light Infantry for twelve years. He was a member of the Northumberland R.G.A., militia prior to attesting in the Durham Light Infantry. He enlisted at North Shields on the 7th August 1906, then aged 22 years and 6 months. He was described as fresh complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, height 5 feet 5 7/8ths of an inch. Weight 122lb. His religion was Wesleyan. He showed scar marks on the left elbow, upper lip and a circular scar on the front of his neck. His medical examination took place at Fenham Barracks, Newcastle-upon-Tyne on the 10th August 1906.
James joined the Durham Light Infantry on the 20th August 1906 and was posted to the 2nd Battalion on the 6th December 1906. His service number was 9616.
James was at Newcastle-upon-Tyne from the 7th August 1906 to the 5th December 1906. Then Cork from the 6th December until the 8th March 1907. James then was posted on the 9th March 1907, to the 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry and was then sent overseas with his battalion to Lucknow, India on the 9th March 1909. On the 11th January 1909 he was stationed at Haserabad.
The 1st battalion remained in India throughout the First World War, suffering a continual drain of drafts for the Western Front. In August 1914 it was part of the Nowshera Brigade of the Peshawar Division, and served on the North West Frontier in 1915, and 1916–17 in campaigns against the Mohmands. The battalion was in Rawalpindi in 1919 at the outbreak of the Third Anglo-Afghan War in which it played a mostly supporting role. Demobilising its time expired men, a cadre of the battalion returned to Britain in February 1920.
Whilst based in India he was promoted to unpaid Lance-Corporal on the 24th March 1910, then Corporal on the 22nd September 1911. James was then 'reverted' back to the ranks, due to a Misconduct charge resulting in a 28 day detention, on the 27th December 1912.
In 1911 the census shows that his battalion were at the barracks in India, James, however was absent, due to being out of the barracks in the field.
On the 10th February 1913, James was admitted to hospital for a sprained ankle at Nowshera, "Whilst on Field firing parade at Nowshera on the 30-01-1913, he slipped on a stone during the advance and sprained his ankle. He was in no way to be blame."
On the 20th April 1913, he contracted Pleurisy and was in hospital until the 7th May 1913 at Nowshera. James then caught Sandfly Fever on the 3rd July 1914, hospital 5 days. Comments, no Malarial Parasites in the blood, Not severe. Quinine. He then contracted Malaria on the 11th October, confined to hospital 7 days, still at Nowshera.
On the 24th March 1915, he was diagnosed with Syphilis and was transferred to Peshawar for treatment. On the 28th March 1915, he was returned to Nowshersa, but each week had to return to Peshawar for weekly treatment.
3rd March 1916, he contracted Ringworm [Tinea Circinata is a fungal infection]. Discharged on the 10th. Then he was transferred back to Peshawar on the 8th March for a new course of treatment for syphilis. 26th July he caught Malaria again, and was in hospital at Nowshera, being discharged on the 4th August 1916. 19th August to the 23rd August he got Boils, then located at Baran, finally on the 27th April 1917, he had Ulcers, again admitted to hospital until the 11th June 1917.
James then contracted Malaria again, and was in Hospital between the 22nd October and 26th October 1917. Also about a year later on the 17th October 1918 he had influenza and was in hospital for nine days until the 25th October 1918.
By the 3rd April 1919, James had completed his service, totalling twelve years and 289 days, and was now in the Class Z reserve. However, James now re-enlisted into the 83rd Labour Company on the 26th May 1919, at his re-enlistment at Ripon, on the 28th, he was half a inch taller and with a weight now of 132 lb. His new service number was 694965. Now Grade BI. This was due to Army Order 196/19. James states his address at 13 Mafeking Terrace, North Shields, with his sister Mrs Elizabeth Watson as his Next of Kin. His character described as Good.
He was now 35 years old and was posted abroad to France on the 22nd June 1919. James had UK leave between the 15th October and the 8th November 1919.
He returned from France on the 13th April 1920.
James was finally discharged on Demobilization under Paragraph 392 (XXV111) K.R. on the 23rd April 1920.
On the 4th March 1921, James filled in a request to join the Northumberland Fusiliers in section 'D' to the Officer i/c, Labour Corps, Records, Nottingham.
He was residing then at 20 Mafeking Terrace, New York, Northumberland. The Infantry Records York sent a reply on the 19th March 1921. Stating that he was ineligible due to reason of his age.
Shields Daily News Wednesday, 22/04/1925.'Four New York miners, named John Logan (41), Brookland Terrace; John Turnbull (21), 10 Coronation Terrace; and George Watson (42) and James Conroy both of 18 Mafeking Terrace, were each fined 10s at Whitley Bay, today, for gaming, by way of pitch and toss, on April 10.'
James died on the 11th January 1931 of Influenzal Pneumonia, and was buried at Preston Cemetery on the 15th January 1931.
Evening Chronicle Wednesday 14/01/1931 reads: 'CONROY - New York. Mafeking Terrace, at the residence of his sister, Mrs Watson. Jan 11th, aged 46 years James dearly beloved son of late Thomas and Isabella Conroy. Interment, Preston Jan 15th 2.30 pm; cortege leaving residence 1.45 pm. All friends and neighbours invited. R.I.P.'
Source : Preston Hospital death registers
James Conroy Age 46 Labourer 50 Preston Road (This is usually the address given for Preston Hospital), Entry 2097 Unconsecrated Ground 4966 Buried on 15th January 1931 Parish Removed: Tynemouth
Date of Death: 11 January 1931
Name: Conroy, James
Age: 50
Actual Address whence admitted: Tynemouth
Usual Place of Abode: 14 Queen Street, North Shields
Certified Cause of Death: Influenzal pneumonia
When and Where Buried: 15.1.31 Preston Cemetery.
