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Edward James
52202, Quartermaster Sergeant, 6 Depot Company Royal Engineers
Accidentally killed, 3 December 1916, aged 51
Buried at Great Orme’s Head Cemetery
CWGC registered (no family details)
Edward James is not remembered on any of the Llandudno memorials. However, his death in 1916 attracted more column inches of the local press than the vast majority of the local lads. This page is included for interest only.
A professional soldier, Edward James was born at Gorey, Co Wexford in 1865. He was a joiner by trade and served a six-year apprenticeship before joining the army on 16 August 1890. His regimental number in the Royal Engineers was 25047. He married Kathleen Helena Bourne at Aghold in 1895 and both spent some time in India, their sons Herbert Holmes James and Edward Ingram James being born there in 1897 and 1899 respectively. Edward James spent a total of nine years and two months in India and one year and four months in the Gold Coast, now Ghana, West Africa.
The Census of 1911 records Edward James’ family living at 72 York Avenue, Gillingham, Kent. His children, Eva (b 1903), John William Costello (b 1905), Norman (b 1906), Frederick (b 1908) and Ina (b 1910) were all recorded as being born at Chatham. Edward’s name had been crossed out from the census return which indicates that he was not present in the home when the census was taken. Edward James’ service terminated on 15 August 1911 and though he indicated that he intended to return to Ireland, it appears that he continued to live at Gillingham.
Edward James re-enlisted as a sapper in the Royal Engineers on 18 September 1914 his new regimental number was 52202. He stated his age as 47 though he was in fact 49. He was appointed acting quartermaster sergeant the following day. He was attached to the 64th and the 129th Field Companies and was promoted to acting warrant officer class 1 on 1 April 1915. However, he reverted to quartermaster sergeant on 16 September 1915 having been found fit only for home service duty. He was posted to No 6 Depot Company at Conwy and attached to the RE Training Centre, Deganwy.
On 16 July 1916, another daughter, Olwen James was born at 8 Skinner Street, Gillingham. The informant on the following day was Edward James, presumably at home on leave.
Edward James died in Llandudno Cottage Hospital on 3 December 1916 aged 51 as a result of injuries sustained after being hit by a bus on 25 November at Deganwy whilst off duty. He was buried at the Great Orme’s Head Cemetery.
Edward James’ untimely death was to have very unfortunate consequences. On 20 February 1919, Kathleen James was admitted to the Chatham Workhouse. She was discharged five weeks later but died shortly after. Olwen James’ daughter, Geraldine, recalls that the youngest children were placed in orphanages. See comment 1.
Edward James is not remembered on the Gorey War Memorial but he is mentioned in the book Ireland’s Memorial Records 1914-1918.
Thank you so much for your work on these records. Edward James was my grandfather, whom of course I never knew. His death (an ironic accident considering he had been found unfit for war duty)must have been a devastating blow to my grandmother as she had given birth to my mother just five months earlier and had seven other children. She died not long after her husband and the younger children were all placed in orphanages.
It’s amazing that those of us researching now have access to this kind of information, thanks to the internet and thanks for the painstaking work of people such as yourself.
Thank you Geraldine. With your hint I have reviewed Edward James and discovered that he spent over a year in the Gold Coast, once known as “The White Man’s Grave”. Please leave a reply if any of the facts above are incorrect or if there is any other material information concerning your grandfather.