James (left) George (right) Father at rear
Eleanor with children Stephen & Ruth
Thiepval Memorial
James Winter
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Chadwick Winter (Jim) was born March 8th 1888 in Medomsley, one of 13 surviving children (3 deceased) of John Thomas Winter born 1860 at Newbottle Lane, Chester-le-Street and Ruth Harvey Leadbitter, who were married September 29th 1879 at the Parish Church of Ebchester.
James, at the age 22, in 1910, married Eleanor born 1892 at Benfieldside, they went to live with his family at 65, West Chilton, Ferryhill. James along with his father and three of his older brothers worked at the colliery, he was a hewer underground.
James Chadwick Winter enlisted in Ferryhill as Private 3983 Durham Light infantry assigned to the 1/8th Battalion. After undergoing initial training his Battalion first landed in France as part of the replacement draft of service Battalions that had begun in June due to the huge losses sustained in early 1915.
James arrived at the front October 27th 1915, attached to the 151st Brigade, 50th Division, 4th Army and was twice promoted in rank first to Lance Corporal and then to Sergeant. During 1915 they took part in the Battle of Ypres and 1916 saw them in action at the Battles of the Somme including the Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd and the Battle of Morval 25th-28th September. Friday September 29th the Battalion was in trenches, map reference Spence Trench, 26th Avenue and Crescent Alley. In the evening they made a bombing attack which consisted of swarming the enemy trenches and releasing grenades.
Sergeant 3983 James Chadwick Winter Durham Light Infantry was killed in action during this raid. James has no known grave and his sacrifice is recorded Pier and Face 14A & 15C Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France.
He was awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal which were sent to his widow Eleanor at 5, Denewood Terrace, Chilton, Ferryhill along with all monies owed to him. James was 28 years old, he and Eleanor did not have children. Eleanor died 1918 in Lanchester, his father John Thomas 1929 in Chilton and his mother Ruth in 1944.
James had three brothers who served in the Great War:- John George Thomas Snowball and Albert Edward
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Sherri Gropp has submitted the following:
I am writing to give you more information on Sergeant James Chadwick Winter on the Chilton Memorial. First I want to thank you for the North East Memorial Project it is simply amazing and I was thrilled to see James my great-grandfather listed. There is a slight correction to your beautiful description. James and Eleanor did have children Stephen born December 17th 1913 and Ruth born c.1916. Stephen was my grandfather. I have a really great photo of James Chadwick, his brother George and father John Thomas. I also have one of Eleanor with Stephen and Ruth that you are welcome to add to your site.
James Chadwick Winter is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 267
