Name
James Washington
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/11/1918
46
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
280915
Royal Garrison Artillery
71st Heavy Battery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. SOUPLET BRITISH CEMETERY
I. C. 14.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Cross Church Memorial, Sarratt, Stone of Remembrance, The Green, Sarratt, We are not aware of any memorial in Commonwood
Pre War
James was born in 1872 at Commonwood, Hertfordshire and baptised in Chipperfield, the son of Johnathan and Harriet. In 1881 they were living at West Wood Cottages, Old House Lane, Bucks Hill.
Jonathan was a farm labourer and Harriet, a straw plaiter. In 1891 the family was living at Capell Road, Bushey and James, the eldest of 7 brothers, was working as a coal carter. In 1901 Jonathan and family were living at Uxbridge Road, Mill End, Rickmansworth where he worked as a cattleman on a farm.
By 1901, James would have been serving in the army. He married Ada Sophia Miller, who was born in Mill End, at the Register Office, Portsmouth on 9/7/1908. In 1911 he was working as a waggoner on a farm and living at Deadman’s Ash, Sarratt with wife, Ada and 2 daughters, Minnie Maud and Emily. (Emily died in 1911, only a few months old) Both the daughters had been born in Mill End. Another child, Henry James, was born in September 1912.
Wartime Service
James originally enlisted in the Royal Artillery in October 1896 in London. His age was given as 20 and he was a labourer. He was described as being 5ft 7in with fair complexion, blue grey eyes, and scars on right cheek and back of neck. He had not resided at father’s house in previous 5 years.
He served in Gibraltar, Malta and India and was discharged on 15 October 1908 at the termination of engagement. On 7 September 1914 he joined the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) in the Bedfordshire Regiment. He transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery in December 1914 and served on the Western Front from 14 February 1915 until 9 November 1918.
He died of a cerebral haemorrhage on 9 November 1918.
Additional Information
His soldier’s effects of £37 5s 5d, including a war gratuity of £24, were left to his wife, Ada Sophia whose address was given as 210 Uxbridge Road, Mill End, Rickmansworth.
Acknowledgments
Pat Hamilton
Malcolm Lennox
