Name
Francis John James
1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/03/1917
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
25561
Northamptonshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 11 A and 11 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Royston Town War Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Not on the Aspenden Village Memorial
Pre War
Francis was born in 1881 in Aspenden (some records give Buntingford – the nearest town) and the birth registered in Royston and he was christened there on 27 November 1881. His parents were Benjamin and Clara James (née Dowton) and they married in 1879.
In 1891 the family were living at Lower Gravells Road, Harpenden. Present were both parents: Benjamin (35) and Clara (35), with Benjamin working as a police constable. Their children were: Francis John (9), Florence Emma (7), Rosa Mary Ann (4) and Alfred George (2).
In 1901 Benjamin was still a policeman, but now living with his wife at 11 Park Road, Ware, with two of their children Rosa and Alfred. Francis was absent, but found living with Aunt Emma Thompson at The Warren, Royston, Herts. Emma (63) was laundress and Frances, now 19, and working as a painter (painter decorator).
Francis married Mercy Salt (b 22/7/1877) in Royston on 23 November 1901. A daughter, Alice Florence was born 13 August 1902, then Dorothy Rosa, born 23 January 1904, Kathleen Lily, born 22 April 1906) and Ernest Kenneth, born 23 October 1907).
and lastly
By 1911 Francis and Mercy were living at The Warren, Royston, Herts. Francis working as a house painter. The census recorded they had been married for 9 years with 4 children, all living. All the children were present. Then later Margaret Edna was born on 24 April 1912.
By 1916 when Francis’ sister Florence married, Benjamin had retired from the police.
Before the war he was employed by Mr W Bedwell, as a plumber and decorator for over 20 years.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War database records that he was born in Aspenden, Herts., and he enlisted in Hitchin, Herts.
Wartime Service
He joined the army in June 1916 and was posted to France in October of that year.
Killed in action.
Additional Information
After his death £1 18s 6d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Mercy, on 19 July 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her on 3 October 1919.
His pension cards record Mercey James as his widow and as his next of kin, living at The Warren, Royston, Herts., Hitchin. It also records their children as Alice Florence (b 13/8/1902), Dorothy Rosa (b 23/1/1904), Kathleen Lily (b 22/4/1906), Ernest Kenneth (b 23/10/1907) and Margaret Edna (b 24/4/1910). She was awarded a grant of £5 on 5 September 1917 and then a pension of 31s 3d a week from 8 October 1917 for her and her children.
In Hitchin, Francis only appears on the St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), which was compiled for 2014 centenary of the war. We have not found any direct connection to Hitchin, other than he enlisted there.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Paul Johnson
