Name
James Harrowell
1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/10/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
R/24249
King's Royal Rifle Corps
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 115 to 119 and 162A and 163A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring, New Mill Baptist Church, Tring
Pre War
James Harrowell was born in 1884 in Tring, the son of Eli and Elizabeth Harrowell and one of eight children, although one died in infancy.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, George (born 1884), James, Ellen (born 1889), Anne (born 1891) were living at 17 Langdon Street, Tring, where his father was working as a bricklayer. Also listed was Eli’s father, Charles (born 1830, a carpenter).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, George (carpenter’s apprentice), James ( bricklayer’s apprentice), Ellen , Annie , Charles, (born 1895), Elizabeth (born1898), Frank (born 1900), were living at 17 Langdon Street, Tring.
The family remained at the same address in 1911, at which time James was a bricklayer as was his father , Charles was working as a porter for the London and North West Railway Company. He later worked as a clerk for the company and Elizabeth or Elba was a domestic servant and Frank was at school.
He married Caroline Johnson in early 1913 and their daughter Eva was born in Tring the following year. Caroline gave her address as 18 New Mill Terrace, Tring, on pension records and 40 Wingrave Road, New Mill, Tring on CWGC records.
Wartime Service
James enlisted at Watford as Private R/24249 in the Kings Royal Rifle Corps. No Service Record was found for him. He was posted to 9th (Service) Battalion which had landed at Boulogne in May 1915 and had been active at the Battles of the Somme in 1916. James probably joined the Battalion in 1916 as a replacement in time for the deployment to the Somme Battles and then in 1917 to the Arras Offensive and Ypres for the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) particularly the Battle of Langemarck (16-18 Aug) and 1st Battle of Passchendaele (12 Oct 1917). James was reported to have been killed on 22 Oct 1917, a period between major engagements.
This from the Bucks Herald, 10th November 1917: “ROLL OF HONOUR. –
We regret to announce that Mr. Charles (?) Harrowell, of Langdon-street, has been notified by the War Office that his son, Lance-Corpl. James Harrowell, of the King’s Royal Rifles, was killed in action on October 22. An old Volunteer and later a Territorial, Lance Corpl. Harrowell did some years’ service, and only retired a few months prior to the war on taking up a partnership with his brother at Chesham, where they carried on an improving business as builders and contractors. The deceased was called up in May, 1916, and nine weeks later went to France, where he saw service until he met his death last month.
He was formerly a foreman bricklayer in the employ of Mr. Jesse Mead, of Chesham, and was an active member of the Chesham Trade and Labour Council. The news of his death has been received with profound regret by his many friends, and the deepest sympathy is felt with his wife and parents, especially as this is the second loss sustained by the family, his brother Charles Harrowell, Bedford Regiment, having been killed at Hill 60 in April, 1916 [1915]. Lance-Corpl. Harrowell was 33 [32] years of age, and married Miss Johnson, of New Mill.”
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £5 10s and pay owing of £4 5s 11d. She also received a pension of £1 0s 5d which later rose to £1 6s 8d. She did not obtain probate of his estate until 13 Dec 1921 in London with effects of £205 14s.
Brother to Charles Harrowell who served with the Bedfordshire Regiment and died on 19 Apr 1915, aged 19. He is named on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Both are named on the Tring War Memorial and St Peter and St Paul's Church Roll of Honour,
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
